Cardiovascular Manifestations of Epilepsy

A connection between epilepsy and cardiovascular health has long been proposed due to the higher prevalence of cardiovascular pathologies like heart disease, sudden cardiac death, and atherosclerosis among epilepsy patients. However, the directionality of this relationship and the underlying factor(s) have yet to be fully understood. Cerebrovascular dysfunction, ictal myocardial strain, and side effects of antiseizure medications have all been suggested to cause cardiovascular manifestations of epileptic disease and may present avenues for reduction of morbidity and mortality in epilepsy. In this review, we will discuss known cardiovascular pathologies associated with epilepsy, their potential etiologies, and implications for the treatment of epilepsy patients.