Patterns of cardiac ischemic changes among adult Sudanese epileptic patients attending Daoud Charity Clinic - Sudan January – May 2019

Abstract

Introduction Epilepsy is one of the commonest neurologic disorder, with >85% of patients with epilepsy living in low and middle-income countries. Studies have shown that patients with epilepsy have a higher prevalence of structural cardiac disease than those without epilepsy. Seizure activity may not only induce arrhythmias but may also lead to structural cardiac changes. Objectives This study conducted to determine the patterns of cardiac ischemic changes among epileptic patients. Methodology A Community base study was conducted at Daoud Charity Clinic, and case series study design was used. A questionnaire, interviewer–administered, which included 13 items, was employed on a convenient sample consisting of 20 patients. Electrocardiography and echocardiography were used. Results Twenty patients were included with age between eighteen and fifty years, thirteen of them were female and seven were male. Twelve patients presented with tonic clonic, Four patients presented with focal to bilateral and cases of myoclonic, tonic, and focal without impair was observed. Twelve patients are taking sodium valproate, five patients are taking carbamazepine and three patients are taking combination of sodium valproate and carbamazepine. Two patients have ST- segment Abnormalities (St-segment depression and elevation). All patients have normal echocardiography. Conclusion There is a strong relationship between cardiac ischemia and epilepsy, St-segment abnormalities are the commonest finding.