How seizures affect brain wiring in children with focal epilepsy
Official title: Impact of Epileptic Discharge on the Structural Connectivity of the Developing Brain: Combination of Intracerebral Stereotactic Electroencephalography Recording and Diffusion Tensor Imaging in Children With Drug-resistant Focal Epilepsy
Run by Fondation Ophtalmologique Adolphe de Rothschild · NCT03268824 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tests whether ongoing seizures change the brain's white-matter wiring in children with drug-resistant focal epilepsy who are being evaluated for surgery.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Months to 16 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 82 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Fondation Ophtalmologique Adolphe de Rothschild Research network |
| Locations | 1 site (Paris) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | December 19, 2017 |
| Main results expected | June 2026 |
| Study ends | July 2026 |
| Registry record updated | January 5, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT03268824 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are children with drug-resistant focal epilepsy who are undergoing presurgical intracerebral electrode evaluation, can tolerate MRI, speak French, and do not have severe intellectual disability, multi-lobar or bihemispheric epilepsy, major sensory loss, or congenital connectivity disorders.
✕Probably not a fit
Children with IQ below 50, contraindications to MRI, bi-hemispheric or multi-lobar epilepsy, congenital brain connectivity disorders, autism, or major sensory impairments are unlikely to benefit from this protocol.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This observational study combines intracerebral stereotactic EEG (SEEG) recordings with diffusion-weighted MRI tractography in children undergoing presurgical evaluation for drug-resistant focal epilepsy. Diffusion MRI is acquired before electrode implantation to map white-matter fibers, and SEEG recordings are used to compute an epileptogenicity index for each contact to quantify local seizure discharge intensity. Locally, the study correlates regions of reduced structural connectivity with epileptogenicity at nearby contacts; globally, it compares left and right hemisphere fiber patterns to probe preservation of language lateralization. A control group without drug-resistant focal epilepsy is included to help distinguish seizure-related changes from developmental or congenital differences.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If ongoing seizure-related changes to brain connections are demonstrated, the findings could help guide surgical targeting and explain cognitive problems, potentially improving surgical outcomes and long-term development.
How similar studies have gone: Prior diffusion tractography studies have shown widespread connectivity alterations in focal epilepsy, but directly linking those changes to intracerebral seizure activity using combined SEEG-DWI methods is relatively novel and not yet proven.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: \- Drug resistant focal epilepsy Inclusion Criteria for control patients: \- without drug resistant focal epilepsy Exclusion Criteria: * Severe mental retardation (IQ \< 50) * Lack of French-language skills * Contraindications to MRI * Bi-hemispherical epilepsy or affecting multiple lobes Exclusion Criteria for control patients: * Severe mental retardation (IQ \< 50) * Lack of French-language skills * Contraindications to MRI * Congenital pathology altering cerebral connectivity * Parenchymal brain lesions * Unilateral or bilateral blindness * Unilateral or bilateral deafness * Autistic disorders
Where it's running
-
Fondation Ophtalmologique A. de Rothschild
Paris, France Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Vera Dinkelacker, MD PhD — Fondation Ophtalmologique A. de Rothschild
- Study coordinator: Laurence Salomon, MD PhD
- Email: lsalomon@for.paris
- Phone: 0148036431
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
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Modified ketogenic diet for adults with drug-resistant epilepsy
This study tests whether a modified ketogenic diet can help adults with drug-resistant epilepsy see fewer seizures and feel better overall.
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Non-Invasive Low Intensity Focused Ultrasound Stimulation for Drug-Resistant Epilepsy
This study tests whether low intensity focused ultrasound can help reduce seizures in adults with drug‑resistant epilepsy.
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iVEAcare Neuromodulation System for drug‑resistant epilepsy: a feasibility look
This study tests whether the iVEAcare neuromodulation system is safe and can help reduce seizures and improve quality of life in people with drug‑resistant epilepsy.
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Real-world use of the OneRF Ablation System for epilepsy
This registry collects real-world outcomes and device performance from patients with drug-resistant epilepsy who are treated with SEEG-guided RF ablation using the OneRF system.
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Overnight Temporal Interference Stimulation for Temporal Lobe Epilepsy
This study tests whether overnight, non-invasive temporal interference stimulation to the hippocampus can reduce seizure-related brain activity and improve sleep in adults with drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy.
-
Biomarkers of Response to SEEG Thermocoagulation
This study tests biomarkers to see if they predict how well SEEG-guided radiofrequency thermocoagulation helps people with drug-resistant focal epilepsy.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.