NIH Clinical Research Studies

Protocol Number: 01-N-0139

Active Accrual, Protocols Recruiting New Patients

Title:
Evaluation and Treatment of Patients with Epilepsy
Number:
01-N-0139
Summary:
This protocol has three purposes: 1) to screen patients with seizures for participation in research studies of NINDS's Clinical Epilepsy Section (CES), 2) to follow the natural course of seizure disorders, and 3) to train CES fellows in evaluating and treating epilepsy. Only standard diagnostic tests and treatments will be used in this study.

Patients of any age with seizures who are referred to CES may participate in this study. At the end of the study, patients may be discharged to the care of their referring physician, offered participation in another NINDS research protocol, or followed for teaching purposes.

Participants will undergo standard diagnostic procedures used to determine the type of their seizures, what part of the brain they are coming from, what is causing them, and whether standard drug treatments can help them. These may include some or all of the following:

- Physical and neurological examination

- Neuropsychological tests - tests of learning and memory

- Electroencephalography (EEG) - brain wave recording

- Evoked potentials - tests of nerve reactions to lights and sounds

- Polysomnography - simultaneous recordings of brain waves, breathing and eye movements

- Video-EEG monitoring - simultaneous recording of seizures using a video camera and brain waves

- Video-EEG monitoring with extra electrodes to record muscle activity, breathing and eye movements for analyzing sleep patterns

- Imaging studies, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) scans to examine the structure and function of the brain

- Frequent blood tests to measure blood levels of anti-seizure drugs

Sponsoring Institute:
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Recruitment Detail
Type: Active Accrual Of New Subjects
Gender: Male & Female
Referral Letter Required: No
Population Exclusion(s): None

Eligibility Criteria:
INCLUSION CRITERIA:

All patients older than 2 years referred to the Clinical Epilepsy Section will be included for outpatient screening.

Patients likely to be candidates for specific research protocols may be admitted for video-EEG monitoring or polysomnography as needed. Seizure frequency, by history, must be sufficient to make video monitoring effective.

Patients (and parents or guardians, if applicable) followed for teaching and training must express willingness to cooperate with the entire protocol, to be willing to undergo further diagnostic tests if needed, and to return for follow-up evaluation at intervals as needed.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

None

Special Instructions: Currently Not Provided
Keywords:
Seizures
Anti-Epileptic Drugs
Pharmacotherapy
Neuropsychology
Temporal Lobe Epilepsy
Frontal Lobe Epilepsy
Complex Partial Seizures
Grand Mal Seizures
Generalized Seizures
Recruitment Keywords:
Epilepsy
Seizures
Conditions:
Epilepsy
Investigational Drug(s):
None
Investigational Device(s):
None

Contacts:
Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office
Building 61
10 Cloister Court
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-4754
Toll Free: 1-800-411-1222
TTY: 301-594-9774 (local),1-866-411-1010 (toll free)
Fax: 301-480-9793

Electronic Mail:prpl@mail.cc.nih.gov

Citations:
Current issues in the management of epilepsy: the impact of frequent seizures on cost of illness, quality of life, and mortality

The cost of epilepsy in the United States: an estimate from population-based clinical and survey data

Quality of life in children with epilepsy

Active Accrual, Protocols Recruiting New Patients

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