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Impact of Epileptic Discharge on the Structural Connectivity of the Developing Brain

NCT03268824 · Status: RECRUITING · Type: OBSERVATIONAL · Enrollment: 82

Last updated 2026-01-05

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Focal epilepsy is associated with widespread alterations in structural brain connectivity, often present at the disease onset and related to learning disabilities. Whether ongoing seizure activity contributes to network pathology is a matter of debate. This study intends to measure the impact of seizures on structural connectivity on a local and on a global level. In children examined with intracerebral electrodes to evaluate whether a surgical cure can be proposed, we combine intracerebral stereotactic electroencephalography (EEG) recordings with diffusion weighted imaging of white matter fibers. On the local level, the study will quantify the number of deficient connections in the seizure onset zone. On a global level, the study will compare the white matter fibers of the left and right hemisphere to probe whether physiological language lateralization is preserved.

Conditions

  • Epilepsies, Focal
  • Pediatrics
  • Drug Resistant Epilepsy

Interventions

DEVICE

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

Intracerebral electroencephalogram (EEG) will be analysed to quantify the intensity of epileptic discharge (the epileptogenicity index) on each electrode contact (only for children with focal epilepsy).

DEVICE

Diffusion Tensor imaging

We will perform Diffusion Tensor imaging in order to relate tractography measures to seizure recordings. Loss of connectivity (or disconnections) will be determined with diffusion tractography for each brain region. Then we will correlate the degree of epileptogenicity with the number of disconnections.

OTHER

Language assessment

The language assessment will be adapted to the age of the child, with a predominant neuropsychological component.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Fondation Ophtalmologique Adolphe de Rothschild

    lead NETWORK

Principal Investigators

  • Vera Dinkelacker, MD PhD · Fondation Ophtalmologique A. de Rothschild

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Months
Max Age
16 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2017-12-19
Primary Completion
2026-06-30
Completion
2026-07-31

Countries

  • France

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT03268824 on ClinicalTrials.gov