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Hot Topics Symposium: Biomarkers in Epilepsy
Program Length: 150 minutes
Non Credit
Overview
Outcomes in patients with epilepsy are highly unpredictablein respect to both the natural history of epilepsy and the effects oftreatments. There is a need to more accurately counsel patients regarding outcomesand to optimize selection of individualized treatment. Epidemiologic dataregarding the natural history of epilepsy will be presented and availableoutcome measures and their limitations will be reviewed. The clinical and EEGbiomarkers that have been consistently identified in well-designed studies ofepilepsy remission and intractability will be discussed. Various neuroimagingmodalities, particularly MR, PET and SPECT, may provide biomarkers for theprognosis of both medical and surgical treatment. Pharmogenomics may providebiomarkers that predict response to antiepileptic drug therapy and enableindividualized treatment. Attempts to identify reliable pharmacogenomicbiomarkers in epilepsy have so far been disappointing, but, advances in genomictechnology and bioinformatics may eventually redress this. It is likely thatmultiple biomarkers will need to be considered for optimal outcome predictionin epilepsy. The epidemiological constraints on predictive pharmacogenetictesting will be explored.
Learner Outcomes
- Knowledgeregarding epilepsy outcomes will enable more accurate counseling of patientsand choice of treatments
- Thelimitations of currently available biomarkers in predicting epilepsy outcomeswill be understood allowing appropriate use of diagnostic testing
- Thepotential utility of pharmacogenomics in predicting response to treatment willallow use of this technique by clinicians as improved predictability isachieved
- To reviewnew findings in neurophysiology, imaging and genetics which assist in thediagnosis and treatment of epilepsy.
Target Audience
Neurologists, neurophysiologists, pharmacologists andpharmacists, epileptologists, neuroscientists interested in translationalresearch
Program
Co-Chairs: Terence J. O'Brien, M.D., FRACP and R. EdwardHogan, M.D.
The Unpredictability of Epilepsy Outcomes
David M. Ficker, M.D.
Clinical and EEG Biomarkers
Elson L. So, M.D.
Imaging Biomarkers (MRI, PET, SPECT)
R. Edward Hogan, M.D.
Pharmacogenomic Biomarkers
Terence J. O'Brien, M.D., FRACP
Multivariate Predictive Models for Epilepsy Outcomes
Michael E. Johnson, M.D., Ph.D.