Identifying seizure events through breath and sweat analysis
Official title: Volatile Non-Invasive Biomarkers of Epileptic Seizures
Run by University College London Hospitals · NCT05725174 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing whether analyzing breath and sweat samples can help doctors tell the difference between real seizures and other similar events in patients who have just had a seizure.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 270 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University College London Hospitals Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (London, Buckinghamshire and 1 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | January 30, 2023 |
| Main results expected | October 1, 2025 |
| Study ends | November 1, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | December 6, 2024 |
| Trial ID | NCT05725174 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 and older who have been admitted for seizure diagnosis at specified hospitals.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with active infections, on immunosuppressive medications, or unable to provide informed consent may not benefit from this study.
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 aims to collect breath and sweat samples from patients admitted to hospitals after experiencing potential seizures. The researchers will analyze these samples to identify patterns of small molecules that can differentiate between epileptic seizures and other events, potentially determining the severity of the seizure. By developing a non-invasive 'seizure test', the study seeks to improve diagnostic accuracy for patients experiencing seizure-like events.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to a reliable non-invasive method for diagnosing epileptic seizures, improving patient outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: While similar approaches have been used to detect other diseases, this specific method for seizure detection is novel and untested.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Patients who have been admitted to either University College London's Queen's Square EEG-telemetry unit or Chalfont Centre for Epilepsy, for diagnosis of seizure events. 2. Patients aged 18 years or above Exclusion Criteria: 1. Patients with active infection or who have taken antibiotics within 4 weeks 2. Patients on immunosuppressive medications 3. Patients with co-morbidities preventing breath collection 4. Patients unable to provide informed consent.
Where it's running
-
Chalfont Centre for Epilepsy
London, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom Recruiting -
National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
London, London, United Kingdom Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Matthew Walker, MB BChir FRCP — Professor
- Study coordinator: Eleonora Lugara, PhD
- Email: e.lugara@ucl.ac.uk
- Phone: 02031089108
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
RAP-219 long-acting injectable safety and PK study in healthy adults
This early study tests RAP-219-LAI in healthy adults to see how it behaves in the body and whether it is safe and tolerable.
-
Why People with Epilepsy Get More Infections
This study tests whether anti-seizure medicines affect immune function and infection risk in people with epilepsy.
-
Long-Term Epilepsy Outcomes in Children After Perinatal Stroke
This study looks at how epilepsy progresses in kids who had a stroke before 28 days old to see how their seizures and syndromes evolve over time.
-
Hypothalamus structure and heart autonomic changes in drug-resistant epilepsy
This study tests whether structural changes in the hypothalamus relate to cardiac autonomic dysfunction in adults with drug-resistant epilepsy.
-
One-day exercise test to see how brain and body react in epilepsy, cognitive disorders, Parkinson's, dementia, and related conditions
A one-day study tests how an acute bout of exercise changes brain function and bodily signals in people with certain neurological conditions compared with healthy individuals.
-
Advanced 7T fMRI for brain function in epilepsy and brain injuries
This study tests ultra-high-field brain scans at 7T to see if they can better map brain function in adults with epilepsy or brain lesions and in healthy volunteers.
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.