QT and P wave dispersion and heart rate variability in patients with Dravet syndrome

SCN1A mutations are found in up to 80 % of patients with Dravet syndrome (DS), and the sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) rate is higher in DS than in most forms of severe epilepsy. The aim of this study is to examine the autonomic cardiac function and the risk of arrhythmia in DS patients by evaluating QT and P wave dispersion and heart rate variability (HRV) using standard electrocardiography (ECG) and 24-h ECG. The study group consisted of 15 patients (9 boys and 6 girls aged 3.5–17 years) who were genetically diagnosed with DS. The control group comprised 20 healthy subjects, 13 boys and 7 girls aged 4–17 years. P wave dispersion (44.6 ± 3.5 ms), QT dispersion (58.8 ± 7.5 ms) and QTc dispersion (70.8 ± 7.4 ms) were significantly higher in DS patients as compared to the control group ( p