Epilepsy study aims to predict who will respond to treatment
NCT ID NCT05374928
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This completed study followed 316 people with idiopathic generalized epilepsy, including those newly diagnosed and those already known to respond or not respond to treatment. Researchers collected data from seizure diaries, fitness trackers, quality-of-life surveys, and cognitive tests, along with genetic and microbiome samples. The goal was to identify biomarkers that could predict how well someone will respond to epilepsy treatments, helping patients make informed decisions about driving, work, and family planning.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this research could identify biological markers that help doctors predict how well a person with generalized epilepsy will respond to treatment, leading to more personalized care.
- What could go wrong
- This is an observational study, not a treatment trial, so it won't directly test a new therapy. The findings may take years to translate into clinical practice and might not apply to all epilepsy types.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Participants
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316 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Mar 2020
- Finished
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Jun 2026
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
Who is studied
Patients with newly diagnosed IGE, as well as a cohort of subjects with established IGE.
- Ages
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13 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Cohort 1: Newly Diagnosed IGE Inclusion criteria: 1. Age ≥13 years at time of enrollment 2. Age ≥8 years at time of seizure onset 3. Clinical seizure(s) and history consistent with IGE. The only permitted seizure types are absence, myoclonus or generalized tonic-clonic convulsions 4. Occurrence of at least 1 seizure of any type in the 6 months prior to treatment 5. Patients must have one of the following: * GTCSs alone accompanied by generalized spike-wave consistent with IGE per adjudication review * GTCSs with a history of absence and/or myoclonus, accompanied by generalized spike-wave consistent with IGE per adjudication review * GTCSs associated with a history of absence and/or myoclonus, not accompanied by generalized spike-wave consistent with IGE per adjudication review * A clear history of absence and/or myoclonus, accompanied by generalized spike-wave consistent with IGE per adjudication review 6. Availability of a complete medication history since initiation of treatment, including doses and date of initiation 7. No competing cause of epilepsy (e.g. traumatic brain injury) 8. AED treatment (for seizures) instituted not more than 12 months before enrollment Exclusion Criteria 1. Focal epilepsy 2. Generalized/focal epilepsy mixed syndromes 3. Progressive neurological disorder (brain tumor, Alzheimer's disease, progressive myoclonic epilepsy, etc.) 4. Epileptic or developmental encephalopathy 5. Major medical co-morbidities (e.g. renal failure requiring dialysis, metastatic cancer, HIV, or significant liver or renal disease) 6. Autism Spectrum Disorder 7. History of chronic drug or alcohol abuse (misuse or excessive use that interferes with activities of daily living) within the last 2 years 8. Seizures only during pregnancy 9. History of previous or current significant psychiatric disorder that would interfere with study requirements Cohort 2: Longstanding Treatment Responsive Inclusion Criteria: 1. Age ≥13 years at time of enrollment 2. Age ≥8 years at time of seizure onset 3. Clinical seizure(s) and history consistent with IGE. The only permitted seizure types are absence, myoclonus or generalized tonic-clonic convulsions 4. Patients must have had one of the following: 1. GTCSs alone accompanied by generalized spike-wave consistent with IGE per adjudication review 2. GTCSs with a history of absence and/or myoclonus, accompanied by generalized spike-wave consistent with IGE per adjudication review 3. GTCSs associated with a history of absence and/or myoclonus, not accompanied by generalized spike-wave consistent with IGE per adjudication review 4. A clear history of absence and/or myoclonus, accompanied by generalized spike-wave consistent with IGE per adjudication review 5. Availability of a complete medication history since initiation of treatment, including doses and date of initiation 6. No competing cause of epilepsy (e.g. traumatic brain injury) 7. Two years of well-controlled seizures. 1. No convulsive seizures in the last two years 2. Myoclonic or absence seizures must be rare (\<2 per year) and non-disabling 3. Ongoing therapy with \> 1 antiseizure medication Exclusion Criteria: 1. Focal epilepsy 2. Paroxysmal nonepileptic seizures 3. Generalized/focal epilepsy mixed syndromes 4. Progressive neurological disorder (brain tumor, Alzheimer's disease, progressive myoclonic epilepsy, etc.) 5. Epileptic or developmental encephalopathy 6. Major medical co-morbidities (e.g. renal failure requiring dialysis, metastatic cancer, HIV, or significant liver or renal disease) 7. Autism Spectrum Disorder 8. History of chronic drug or alcohol abuse (misuse or excessive use that interferes with activities of daily living) within the last 2 years 9. Seizures only during pregnancy 10. History of previous or current significant psychiatric disorder that would interfere with study requirements Cohort 3: Longstanding IGE, Treatment Resistant Inclusion Criteria: 1. Age ≥13 years at time of enrollment 2. Age ≥8 years at time of seizure onset 3. Clinical seizure(s) and history consistent with IGE. The only permitted seizure types are absence, myoclonus or generalized tonic-clonic convulsions 4. Occurrence of at least 1 seizure of any type in the 6 months prior to treatment onset 5. Patients must have had one of the following: 1. GTCSs alone accompanied by generalized spike-wave consistent with IGE per adjudication review 2. GTCSs with a history of absence and/or myoclonus, accompanied by generalized spike-wave consistent with IGE per adjudication review 3. GTCSs associated with a history of absence and/or myoclonus, not accompanied by generalized spike-wave consistent with IGE per adjudication review 4. A clear history of absence and/or myoclonus, accompanied by generalized spike-wave consistent with IGE per adjudication review 6. Availability of a complete medication history since initiation of treatment. This should include doses and date of initiation if possible, but minimum information would include name of drug, approximate duration of administration and reason for discontinuation, if applicable. 7. No competing cause of epilepsy (e.g. traumatic brain injury) 8. Treatment resistant IGE 1. Initiation of treatment at least 2 years prior to enrollment 2. Treatment resistance, as defined by failure of adequate trials of two tolerated and appropriately chosen and used AED schedules (whether as monotherapies or in combination to achieve seizure freedom). ASMs taken at enrollment would count towards this minimum. 3. Either or both of the following two: i. One GTCC per year over the last 2 years. ii. Any type of seizure at least every 3 months which can consist of either: disabling myoclonus or absence (in the opinion of the subject and investigator) or GTCC d. Such seizures were not primarily due to significant illness (e.g, URI is not significant unless temperature \>101oF (38.3oC), nonadherence to antiseizure medications or \>2 alcoholic beverages within 48 hrs of seizure e. Ongoing therapy with \> 1 antiseizure medication Exclusion Criteria: 1. Focal epilepsy 2. Paroxysmal nonepileptic seizures 3. Generalized/focal epilepsy mixed syndromes 4. Progressive neurological disorder (brain tumor, Alzheimer's disease, progressive myoclonic epilepsy, etc.) 5. Epileptic or developmental encephalopathy 6. Major medical co-morbidities (e.g. renal failure requiring dialysis, metastatic cancer, HIV, or significant liver or renal disease) 7. Autism Spectrum Disorder 8. History of chronic drug or alcohol abuse (misuse or excessive use that interferes with activities of daily living) within the last 2 years 9. Seizures only during pregnancy 10. History of previous or current significant psychiatric disorder that would interfere with study requirements 11. History of/suspicion of provoked seizures accounting for 25% or more of seizures over the prior 2 years (eg alcohol, non-adherence, significant sleep deprivation).
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Georgetown University
Washington D.C., District of Columbia, 20057, United States
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Maine Medical Center
Portland, Maine, 04102, United States
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Mayo Clinic
Rochester, Minnesota, 55905, United States
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Mid-Atlantic Epilepsy Sleep Center
Bethesda, Maryland, 20817, United States
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Minnesota Epilepsy Group
Saint Paul, Minnesota, 55113, United States
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Monash University
Melbourne, Clayton VIC, 3800, Australia
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Mount Sinai Hospital
New York, New York, 10029, United States
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NYU Langone Health - Comprehensive Epilepsy Center (CEC)
New York, New York, 10016, United States
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Northwell Health
New York, New York, 10065, United States
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St. Barnabas Medical Center
Livingston, New Jersey, 07039, United States
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The Johns Hopkins Hospital
Baltimore, Maryland, 21287, United States
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University of California San Francisco (UCSF)
San Francisco, California, 94143, United States
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University of Miami
Miami, Florida, 33146, United States
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University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States
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University of Texas Health Science Center
San Antonio, Texas, 77030, United States
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University of Utah Hospital
Salt Lake City, Utah, 84132, United States
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Washington University
St Louis, Missouri, 63130, United States
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Yale University
New Haven, Connecticut, 06520, United States
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