Cardiac Arrhythmias in Epilepsy: the CARELINK-study

N/ACompletedNCT01946776

Stichting Epilepsie Instellingen Nederland49 enrolled

Overview

Patients with difficult-to-treat epilepsy ("refractory epilepsy") are at high risk of sudden death: sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). Cardiac arrhythmias are one of the possible causes of SUDEP. When monitoring in the hospital setting, the frequency of cardiac arrhythmias in people with epilepsy is low: 0,4%. However, when a subcutaneous implantable device (Reveal XT) is used to monitor heart rhythm continuously for an extended period of time, the frequency of clinically relevant arrhythmias appeared much higher in two small observational studies (n=19): 6-20%. The aim of this study is to analyze the frequency and underlying mechanism of cardiac arrhythmias in a larger group of 50 people with refractory epilepsy with Reveal XT. In the future, this may help us to identify those epilepsy patients at high risk of cardiac arrhythmias, so that we can timely institute preventive measures (e.g. pacemaker implantation).

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

Purpose

DIAGNOSTIC

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Epilepsy Asystole Cardiac Arrhythmias

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 60 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Drug-resistant focal epilepsy: failure of adequate trials of two tolerated and appropriately chosen and used antiepileptic drug (AED) schedules (whether as monotherapies or in combination) to achieve sustained seizure freedom \[16\] * ≥ 1 complex partial and/or generalized tonic clonic seizure/month as indicated by history taking * If female, not pregnant * Aged 18 to 60 years * Able to undergo the study procedure as judged by the treating physician. Exclusion Criteria: * Clinical suspicion of seizure-induced asystole (e.g. seizures with sudden flaccid falls) * Reveal implantation (either present or in the past) * Known clinical relevant structural cardiac disease * Hereditary syndromes that increase the risk of cardiomyopathy (e.g. Marfan's disease) * ECG findings suggestive of arrhythmias without proper cardiac evaluation to in- or exclude this possibility. According to European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines on syncope the following ECG findings will be used: bifascicular block and other intraventricular conduction abnormalities, asymptomatic inappropriate sinus bradycardia (\<50 bpm), sinoatrial block or sinus pause ≥3s in the absence of negative chronotropic medications, non-sustained VT, pre-exited QRS complexes, prolonged or short QT interval, Brugada pattern, pattern suggestive of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. * Pacemaker * Use of beta blockers or other anti-arrhythmic/anti-arrhythmogenic medication * Previous diagnosis of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures * Patients who live alone and are not able to recall their seizures

Locations (4)

Atrium Medical Center

Heerlen, Netherlands

Epilepsy center Kempenhaeghe

Heeze, Netherlands

Epilepsy Instititute in the Netherlands Foundation (SEIN)

Hoofddorp, Netherlands

Antonius Hospital

Sneek, Netherlands

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Incidence and two-year prevalence of clinically relevant cardiac arrhythmia.

Clinical relevant cardiac arrhythmia is defined as: 1. Asystole of ≥ 6s together with clinical symptoms (lightheadedness, syncope, seizure) as indicated by seizure diary, activation of the portable seizure monitor, or patient activation of Reveal XT. The time frame between the reported clinical symptoms and the recorded event should not exceed 15 minutes. 2. Asystole of ≥10s regardless of report of clinical symptoms 3. Other cardiac arrhythmias of clinical significance: 1. polymorphic sustained or non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) 2. non-sustained monomorphic VT of \>180 bpm and \>2s duration, or \>175 bpm and \>3s duration, and sustained monomorphic VT 3. atrial fibrillation (AF) of \>200 bpm and \>30s duration, or \<55 bpm and clinical symptoms (dizziness or dyspnea) 4. persistent sinus bradycardia of \<40 bpm during physical activity 5. asymptomatic 2nd or 3rd degree atrioventricular (AV) block of \>4s duration

Time frame: Continuously for two years or until the end-of-battery-life of Reveal XT (this period is expected to last an additional six months on average)

Secondary Outcomes

the number of patients who will have received a permanent pacemaker at the end of this study.

Participants who will exhibit a clinically relevant arrhythmia (see our primary endpoints) during this study will be referred to an independent cardiologist for further evaluation and/or treatment. In a certain number of cases, this cardiologist will decide with the patient that pacemaker implantation would be the appropriate cause of action.