Ipek Dokurel ÇETİN, Muhlike GÜLER
Eastern Journal of Medicine (EJM) - 2026;31(2):293-301
This research aimed to evaluate autonomic cardiac profile changes in children with epilepsy using levetiracetam (LEV) and carbamazepine (CBZ) by analyzi ng heart rate variability (HRV). In this retrospective controlled study, children who admitted to the pediatric clinic between October 2020 to December 2022 were included and divided into three groups: children with epilepsy receiving LEV (n = 39), children receiving CBZ (n = 39) and healthy controls (n = 41) . Echocardiogram, electroencephalogram, and 24 -hour ambulatory electrocardiogram were used to assess HRV parameters were evaluated. Th e HRV demonstrated no ignificant change s between types of epilepsy, d uration of epilepsy, or EEG abnormalit ies. SDNN was considerably lower in chi ldren with epilepsy in compared to healthy controls (p<0.05). The SDNN and pNN50 values of the children receiving CBZ were significant ly lower than those of those using LEV and controls (p<0.05 and p<0.05).Healthy controls demonstrate d higher sympathetic tone in cardiac autonomic function compared to children with epileps y. The children on CBZ monotherapy resulted in a more pronounced decrease in parasympathetic tone compared to th ose treated with LEV or healthy controls. Children on LEV monotherapy did not show alterations in autonomic cardiovascular functions compared to children with epilepsy on CBZ monotherapy. The recommended use of Holter monitoring and electrocard iographic ev aluation may faciliate early detection of cardiac complications in high -risk children with epilepsy.
