Improved cardiac outcomes with combined atenolol and diazepam intervention in seizure.

Objective: Altered autonomic activity has been implicated in the development of cardiac dysfunction during seizures. This study investigates whether intervening in seizure progression with diazepam will reduce seizure-induced cardiomyopathy. Second, this study examines the hypothesis that combining atenolol with diazepam, as an intervention after seizure onset, will combat cardiac injury during status epilepticus.

Progressive development of cardiomyopathy following altered autonomic activity in status epilepticus.

Seizures are associated with altered autonomic activity, which has been implicated in the development of cardiac dysfunction and structural damage. This study aimed to investigate the involvement of the autonomic nervous system in seizure-induced cardiomyopathy. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (320-350 g) were implanted with EEG/ECG electrodes to allow simultaneous telemetric recordings during seizures induced by intrahippocampal (2 nmol, 1 μl/min) kainic acid and monitored for 7 days.