Arrhythmogenic epilepsy: an hypothesis.
This report describes a clinical syndrome of arrhythmias that may have neural origin. Two patients presented with episodes of loss of consciousness, disorientation, and paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT). One patient reported experiencing neurologic symptoms without tachycardia. When electrophysiologic testing with intracardiac recordings and programmed stimulation yielded no abnormalities that could account for the arrhythmias, a primary neurologic abnormality was sought. The electroencephalograms of both patients showed epileptiform discharges that supported this hypothesis. Arrhythmias and neurologic symptoms were controlled by treatment with the antiepileptic drug carbamazepine in one patient. Findings in these two patients suggest that in some patients arrhythmias may be a manifestation of seizures.
Duke Scholars
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Related Subject Headings
- Tachycardia, Paroxysmal
- Phenytoin
- Male
- Humans
- Epilepsy
- Electrophysiology
- Electroencephalography
- Digoxin
- Cardiovascular System & Hematology
- Carbamazepine
Citation
Published In
DOI
ISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- Tachycardia, Paroxysmal
- Phenytoin
- Male
- Humans
- Epilepsy
- Electrophysiology
- Electroencephalography
- Digoxin
- Cardiovascular System & Hematology
- Carbamazepine