Abstracts

Rationale: Epilepsy and seizures may have profound effect on cardiac function. Epileptic discharges are thought to propagate to the central autonomic network and change or disturb the normal autonomic control of vital cardiac functions. We aimed to evaluate the left ventricular diastolic function of the newly diagnosed idiopathic generalized epileptic children who aren't yet treated. Methods: The study was included epileptic children according to 1981 ILAE classification, between the age of 0-18 years old, except the neonatal period. The control group were similar in age and gender of the patients. Routine interictal EEGs were taken and cranial MRI examination was performed in all cases. Transthoracic two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiographic examinations of patients was performed by using GE Vivid 3 device (GE Healthcare, Milwaukee, WI) with a 3S transducer and the 7S transducer for coronary views. M-mode echocardiographic measurements was obtained at the level of the posterior mitral valve according to recommendations from the American Society of Echocardiography. It's determined that the exclusion criterias are having a disease which is affect the autonomic nervous system except epilepsy (diabetes mellitus, chronic renal failure, Guillain-Barre syndrome, multiple sclerosis, syringomyelia, primary autonomic failure, etc.), drug and alcohol intake, having lesion in cranial MRI, the presence of heart disease. Results: The study were enrolled 60 children including 31 children with epilepsy and 29 healthy children. Mean age of the children was 7,4 ±3,5 years. In patients group had 20 girls (35,4%) and 11 boys (55,1%). The control group had 16 girls (55,1 %) and 13 boys (44,9%). Comparing the patients and control groups as mean of age and sex were not statistically significant (p>0,05). There was not significant differences between patients and control groups were assessed with conventional echocardiographic variables (p> 0.05). Measurement of right ventricular isovolumic contraction time of case and control groups with tissue doppler imaging was found shorter in the patient group and comparing with the control group in terms of IVCT values ​​were found statistically significant. Measurements of the differences between medial wall of the annulus systolic peak velocity (p <0.005) and the differences between isovolemic contraction time (p <0.005) were significant in case and control groups. These parameters for explaining the lowness of IVCT as sistolic dysfunction, we need more comprehensive studies. Conclusions: We were not detected left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in the patients. The diastolic functions in our patients may have not yet affected because the mean age of our patients is younger, and the diagnosis time of seizure frequency is newly. Therefore to show the effect of epilepsy on diastolic function in children more comprehensive studies at longer duration are needed.