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Clinical trial: Rolandic Epilepsy Genomewide Association International Study (REGAIN)

June 6, 2018

Approximately 25% of child patients have Rolandic Epilepsy or RE, also known as Benign Epilepsy with Centrotemporal Spikes (BECTS). RE has a complex genetic basis, probably made up of combinations of susceptibility variants in different genes. Children with RE quite often have other symptoms that affect their speech, attention, reading ability or coordination. The goal of this study is to find the genetic basis for susceptibility to seizures and associated comorbidities for RE using genomewide association approaches.

We know that RE has a genetic basis and we recently discovered the genetic cause of the EEG pattern seen in RE. The goal of REGAIN is to now find the genetic basis for susceptibility to seizures and the associated symptoms above. Our hope is to be able to improve diagnosis and understand why each child with RE is different, and perhaps point us towards new treatments that are more effective and have fewer side effects.

We will compare the genetic code of 3,000 children with RE against a similar number of people not affected by epilepsy. With the proposed large sample of participants, we will be able to pinpoint the exact changes that might lead to seizures or attention problems for example. Learning the genetic basis for these problems will deepen our understanding of the mechanisms and lead to new treatments or cures.

Estimated study start date: June 1, 2018
Estimated study completion date: December 31, 200

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study: 6 Years to 25 Years (Child, Adult)
Sexes Eligible for Study: All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosis of Rolandic Epilepsy in accordance with the following international criteria:
    • Age of first afebrile seizure 3-12 years
    • Seizures comprising focal sensorimotor seizures affecting the vocal tract and face, with or without involvement of the arm
    • Predominant sleep-related seizures
    • EEG interictal centro-temporal spikes with normal background
  • Current age 6-25 years

 

Exclusion Criteria:

  • No history of focal seizure
  • Normal EEG or abnormal background features on EEG
  • Known structural causes (stroke, tuberous sclerosis, infection, post-infectious or metabolic)
  • Primary diagnosis of autism or global learning disability
  • Focal central neurological deficit on clinical exam,
  • Unable to provide informed consent
  • Unable to provide blood sample