AUTONOMIC FUNCTION ASSESSMENT IN E. .PILEPSY A CLINICAL AND ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL STUDY

Abstract

Background & Objectives: Evaluation of autonomic cardiovascular reflexes in patients with epilepsy indicates dysfunction of both the sympathetic component and the parasympathetic component. The main task in our present study is to assess the autonomic functions in epileptic patients and to assess the effect of the type of epilepsy and monotherapy Vs polytherapy on the autonomic functions. Methodology: 30 epileptic patients were exposed to history taking examination, laboratory investigations interictal EEG and ECG and RR-IV and SSR tests. Results: RR-IV and SSR tests are affected in epileptic patients, patients with generalized epilepsy have reduced sympathetic responsiveness than focal epilepsy and the impact of monotherapy is similar to polytherapy on autonomic tests. Conclusion: ANS disturbances are common in epileptic patients and RR interval, SSR tests are very useful and non-invasive tests to detect these disturbances moreover, autonomic function assessment is very important to detect patients who are vulnerable to SUDEP.