Investigation of Electrocardiographic Changes Caused by Antepileptic Drugs in Epilepsy Patients

One of the metabolic effects of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) is cardiac changes.

In our study, to investigate the cardiac effects of AED use; We looked at electrocardiography (ECG) samples performed on patients. By looking at ECG variables, we tried to determine their relationship with epileptic seizure types and antiepileptic drugs.

This prospective study was completed with a total of 50 epilepsy patients whose ECGs were recorded after exclusion criteria. The number of years the patients had epilepsy, the frequency of seizures, the duration of seizures, and the AEDs they used were recorded. Standard 12-lead ECG was applied to the patients, and QT intervals, Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT ratio, and Tp-e/QTd ratio were measured.

Patients most commonly use levatiracetam, valproic acid (VPA), carbamazepine, and lamotrigine, respectively. The median seizure time of the patients was 120 seconds. There was no difference regarding ECG parameters among seizure types. Among the AED groups, Tp-e interval (P = 0.028), Tp-e/QT (P = 0.007), and Tp-e/QTd (P = 0.001) values were lower in those receiving lamotrigine.

It was determined that there were differences in cardiac repolarization parameters between AEDs. Lamotrigine had the highest confidence interval due to its low effect on the ECG and low potential to cause arrhythmia.