Investigating Epilepsy: Screening and Evaluation
Investigating Epilepsy: Screening and Evaluation
Background:

 Epilepsy affects about 1 percent of the U.S. population. Most people with epilepsy respond
 well to medicine, but some do not. Researchers want people who have diagnosed or suspected
 epilepsy to participate in ongoing studies. They want to learn more about clinical care for
 epilepsy. They want fellows and residents to learn more about the care of people with
 epilepsy.

 Objectives:

 To learn more about seizures and find ways to best treat people with drug-resistant epilepsy.

 Eligibility:

 Adults and children ages 8 years and older with diagnosed or suspected epilepsy

 Design:

 Participants will be screened with:

 Physical exam

 Medical history

 Questionnaires

 Participants will have many visits. They may be admitted to the hospital for several weeks.
 Their medication might be stopped or changed.

 Participants will have many tests:

 Blood and urine tests

 EEG: Wires attached to the head with paste record brain waves. This may be videotaped.

 Thinking and memory tests

 MRI: Participants lie on a table that slides in and out of a tube. They perform simple tasks
 in the tube.

 MEG: Participants lie on a table and place their head in a helmet to record brain waves.

 PET scan: Participants lie on a table that slides into a machine. A small amount of
 radioactive dye is injected into their arm with an IV. For the IV, a small tube is inserted
 into the arm with a needle.

 Participants will stay enrolled in this study if they join other epilepsy-related studies.
 They may be contacted at intervals for follow-up. Their participation will end if they have
 not been seen clinically for their epilepsy for 3 years.
Objectives: The primary objective is to maintain a cohort of patients referred to the NIH
 with a known or suspected diagnosis of epilepsy for eligibility to participate in ongoing
 protocols. The secondary objectives are to: follow the natural history of subjects with
 epilepsy and epilepsy-related disorders, and to use data obtained through clinical care for
 descriptive and/or correlative research. Study Population: Adults and children age 8 years
 and older referred with a clinical diagnosis of epilepsy Design: Participants In this
 protocol will be evaluated by study investigators with standard diagnostic clinical studies
 as clinically indicated to fully characterize their uncontrolled or suspected seizures and
 related clinical features. There are no study procedures other than data collection for this
 protocol after screening. Patients will be followed clinically, as needed, to follow the
 natural history of epilepsy. Follow up will be performed to allow for evaluation of the
 natural history of drug-resistant epilepsy and its co-morbidities. Outcome Measures: Patients
 will be screened for eligibility for epilepsy-related research protocols and clinically
 characterized, including clinical features, imaging, and electrophysiological and
 neuropsychological characteristics. In addition, standard of care evaluation and treatment
 will be carried out under this protocol.
-  INCLUSION CRITERIA:

 -  Age 8 years or older

 -  Known or suspected diagnosis of epilepsy

 -  Ability to give informed consent or have a legally authorized representative able to
 give consent (for adults without consent capacity) or parent/guardian able to provide
 informed consent (for a child)

 -  If unable to give informed consent, ability to give assent (for minors 8 and older or
 adults without consent capacity)

 EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

 -  Patients with unstable medical conditions that, in the opinion of the investigators,
 makes participation unsafe, or who, in the opinion of the investigators may be unable
 to comply with the protocol

 -  Patients who are unable to travel to the NIH