Changes in Heart Rate Variability after Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Patients with Refractory Epilepsy

• Type: Article in International Conference Proceedings Book
• Date: 2021

Authors

Lopes, EM (Author) Other; Van Rafelghem, L (Author) Other; Dias, D (Author) Other; Nunes, MC (Author) Other; Hordt, M (Author) Other; Noachtar, S (Author) Other; Kaufmann, E (Author) Other; Cunha, JPS (Author) FEUP

Conference proceedings International

Title: 2021 10TH INTERNATIONAL IEEE/EMBS CONFERENCE ON NEURAL ENGINEERING (NER)

Pages: 1053-1056

10th International IEEE-EMBS Conference on Neural Engineering (NER)

Prague, ELECTR NETWORK, MAY 04-06, 2021

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Authenticus ID: P-00V-1C5

DOI: 10.1109/ner49283.2021.9441362

Abstract (EN): Cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation (c-tDCS) is a non-invasive option for treatment of refractory epilepsy. However, it is still unknown whether this therapy has a positive stabilizing effect on the vegetative function of these patients. Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is considered an efficient tool to monitor the cardiac autonomic system, which has been correlated with the risk of Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP). In this study, changes in HRV are investigated after c-tDCS of six patients (34.50 +/- 11.10 years) with refractory epilepsy, which have been selected at the University Hospital, LMU Munich. Patients were categorized as responders (n=2), non-responders (n=3) and uncategorized (n=1). We analyzed 24 hours of electrophysiological data recorded before and after treatment, and computed HRV metrics (AVNN, SDNN, RMSD, pNN20, pNN50, LH/HF, 0V, 1V, 2LV, 2UV, SD1 and SD2). All patients revealed a change in almost all HRV metrics post stimulation. Grouped all patients, there was a significant (p<0.05) change in RMSSD, pNN50, SD1 and LH/HF. For responders there was an increase in all time domain and nonlinear metrics, which was not seen for non-responders. These results suggest that tDCS exerts significant changes in cardiovascular autonomic system in patients with refractory epilepsy. HRV metrics may also serve as biomarkers of the response to tDCS stimulation. A larger dataset is being gathered for further analysis.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 4