Epilepsy Surgery

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The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, part of the National Institutes of Health, is looking for individuals to participate in clinical studies. Participating in clinical trials allows you to play an active role in research on the nature and causes of many disorders of the brain and nervous system, and to possibly help physician-scientists develop future treatments. The information below is designed to help you quickly learn about actively recruiting research studies for which you or someone you know may be eligible.

Description:

Medically-intractable or uncontrolled epilepsy is a type of epilepsy that cannot be controlled with medication. Some people whose seizures do not respond to medication may respond to surgery. The purpose of this study (11-N-0051) is to learn more about medically-intractable or uncontrolled epilepsy and its treatment. Standard epilepsy treatment, including the possibility of surgery if needed, will be provided to participants.

Volunteers must be 8 years of age or older and will be evaluated with standard epilepsy testing, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain, blood tests, video electroencephalography, and neurological examinations. Participants will be admitted to the NIH Clinical Center for about 2 weeks for testing and possible surgery and recovery. Participants will return for outpatient visits 3, 12, and 24 months after surgery. If surgery is not performed, no further follow-up will be required after the initial 2-week hospital stay. There is no charge for study-related tests and procedures; some travel costs may be reimbursed. Minors must have permission from their parent before participating.

Eligibility Criteria:

To be eligible for the study, volunteers must:

Be 8 years of age or older.
Have simple or complex partial seizures (seizures that come from one area of the brain).
Have seizures that persist despite medical therapy (medically intractable epilepsy).
Are willing to have brain surgery, if indicated, to treat medically intractable epilepsy.

Volunteers will be excluded if they:

Are pregnant.
Cannot have an MRI scan.
Have a medical problem that would make study testing or surgery unsafe.

Study Design:

Interventional

Study Locations:

Bethesda, Maryland

For more information:

Contact: Gretchen Scott, R.N.; Tel: 301-496-2921; or the Patient Recruitment Office: Tel: 800-411-1222; Email: SNBrecruiting@nih.gov
Visit: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01273129

Last Reviewed February 21, 2013