Korean Circ J.  2012 May;42(5):349-351. 10.4070/kcj.2012.42.5.349.

Recurrent Syncope Triggered by Temporal Lobe Epilepsy: Ictal Bradycardia Syndrome

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. seil@snu.ac.kr
  • 2Department of Neurology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

Ictal asystole is potentially lethal, and known to originate from the involvement of limbic autonomic regions. Appropriate treatment must include an antiepileptic drug and the implantation of a pacemaker. We report the case of a 54-year-old male with recurrent syncope secondary to ictal asystole triggered by temporal lobe epilepsy. This was confirmed by combined Holter and video-electroencephalogram monitoring.

Keyword

Bradycardia; Syncope; Electrocardiography

MeSH Terms

Bradycardia
Electrocardiography
Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe
Heart Arrest
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Syncope
Temporal Lobe

Figure

  • Fig. 1 Electroencephalogram and electrocardiogram. Electroencephalogram showed rhythmic theta activity and sharp waves in the T3 area (arrow) at first, and then generalized rhythmic theta activity. Asystole started 22 seconds after seizure attack, as shown in the electrocardiogram channel (arrow head).

  • Fig. 2 Holter recording. Holter recording showed three episodes of a long sinus pause of 40 seconds, followed by junctional escape rhythm, and then sinus tachycardia.


Reference

1. Brignole M, Alboni P, Benditt DG, et al. Guidelines on management (diagnosis and treatment) of syncope-update 2004: executive summary. Eur Heart J. 2004. 25:2054–2072.
2. Reeves AL, Nollet KE, Klass DW, Sharbrough FW, So EL. The ictal bradycardia syndrome. Epilepsia. 1996. 37:983–987.
3. Britton JW, Ghearing GR, Benarroch EE, Cascino GD. The ictal bradycardia syndrome: localization and lateralization. Epilepsia. 2006. 47:737–744.
4. Blumhardt LD, Smith PE, Owen L. Electrocardiographic accompaniments of temporal lobe epileptic seizures. Lancet. 1986. 1:1051–1056.
5. Opherk C, Coromilas J, Hirsch LJ. Heart rate and EKG changes in 102 seizures: analysis of influencing factors. Epilepsy Res. 2002. 52:117–127.
6. Frysinger RC, Harper RM. Cardiac and respiratory correlations with unit discharge in human amygdala and hippocampus. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol. 1989. 72:463–470.
7. Freeman R. Cardiovascular manifestations of autonomic epilepsy. Clin Auton Res. 2006. 16:12–17.
8. Rugg-Gunn FJ, Simister RJ, Squirrell M, Holdright DR, Duncan JS. Cardiac arrhythmias in focal epilepsy: a prospective long-term study. Lancet. 2004. 364:2212–2219.
9. Park KH, Her SH, Lee JM, et al. Brain Tumor is a rare cause of both bradycardia and seizure. Korean Circ J. 2007. 37:449–452.
10. Kim JS, Ryu JC, Joo SB, et al. Usefulness of head-up tilt test in adults with syncope or presyncope of unexplained origin. Korean Circ J. 1996. 26:855–864.
Full Text Links
  • KCJ
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr