Innovative MRI to Localize the Epileptic Zone

Launched by UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, GRENOBLE · Sep 19, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The EPI-CATCHER clinical trial is researching new ways to find the exact area in the brain where seizures happen in people with epilepsy, specifically those with temporal lobe epilepsy. Researchers will use advanced MRI technology and computer tools to study brain images and determine if these methods can help locate the "epileptic zone" more accurately. This trial is not yet recruiting participants, but when it begins, it will involve adults aged 18 to 65 who have epilepsy that does not respond to medication and may need surgery.

To participate, patients must have certain characteristics, like having a specific type of epilepsy and a normal MRI or signs of brain changes that could be treated with surgery. Key eligibility requirements include being able to provide consent and not being pregnant. Participants in the trial can expect to undergo MRI scans and provide information about their health, contributing to research that may improve epilepsy treatment in the future. It's important to note that individuals with certain brain conditions or who are pregnant won't be able to join the study.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Patient group
• • Patients aged 18-65 years,
• • Patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy,
• • Patients with MTLE suspicion, with normal MRI or hippocampal sclerosis, and candidate for surgery,
• • Negative pregnancy test for child-bearing aged woman,
• • Obtained signed informed consent from patient
• • Reference group
• • Male or female, 18-65 years,
• • Obtained signed informed consent from participants,
• • Negative pregnancy test for child-bearing aged woman
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Patient group
• • Patient without social security system
• • Inability or unwillingness of the individual to provide written informed consent, according to national regulations.
• • Impossibility of collecting information on exposure (subjects recently arrived in France, foreign language, etc.),
• • Contraindication for MRI,
• • Contraindication for injection of MRI contrast agent (Gd-Chelate),
• • Evidence on neuroimaging (CT or MRI) of a brain lesion in the same hemisphere as the EZ (tumor, stroke, cerebral edema with midline shift and a clinically significant compression of ventricles, or subarachnoid hemorrhage, or intracerebral parenchymal hematoma (petechial small hemorrhages are NOT a non-inclusion criteria),
• • Severe leucoariosis
• • Pre-existing dementia
• • Pregnant, breastfeeding women
• • Reference group
• • Person who is participating in another therapeutic trial
• • Person with a psychiatric disorder, an epilepsy, or a brain lesion susceptible to impact the MRI readouts
• • Person without social security system,
• • Inability or unwillingness of the individual to provide written informed consent, according to national regulations,
• • Impossibility of collecting information on exposure (subjects recently arrived in France, foreign language, etc.),
• • Contraindication for MRI
• • Contraindication for injection of MRI contrast agent (Gd-Chelate)
• • Pregnant, breastfeeding woman.