By employing long-term electrocardiographic monitoring, this study plans to determine:~the frequency and types of cardiac arrhythmias that occur in patients with uncontrolled seizures and~whether these are increased above the general population in the same age group.~The specific aims:~Identify the types, frequency, and duration of cardiac arrhythmias that occur in patients with refractory epilepsy and compare these data to available normative data.~Correlate abnormal heart rates and rhythms to specific clinical data:~seizure type,~seizure frequency,~probable location of seizure onset in the brain, when such data are available,~duration of seizures, and~type(s) and number of anticonvulsant medications being used.~Correlate cardiac arrhythmias to clinical symptoms
People with epilepsy are at a higher risk for sudden unexpected death than the general population. Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is a major cause of death in this population, accounting for 10-50% of deaths for those with epilepsy. The risk for SUDEP is particularly high for those with refractory epilepsy. Several lines of evidence support a cardiac mechanism for SUDEP.~This study plans to determine:~the frequency and types of cardiac arrhythmias that occur in this population and~whether these are increased above the general population in the same age group.~Additionally, these data will be correlated to specific clinical data, including seizure history, anticonvulsant medications, and any accompanying clinical symptoms.