Genetic Markers of Cardiovascular Disease in Epilepsy

August 1, 2023 updated by: Virend Somers, MD, PhD, Mayo Clinic

Genetic Markers of Cardiovascular Diseases and the Potential Role in Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy.

Epilepsy is a common condition which affects over 3 million people in the US. Patients with uncontrolled epilepsy have a lifetime risk of sudden unexpected death (SUDEP) of 35%, which is greatest in those under 40 years of age. The exact mechanisms and causes are not understood but can be due to underlying conditions which affect the heart and brain, which may lead to dangerous heart rhythms and death. Some of these conditions which affect heart and brain have an identifiable genetic cause. This study aims to identify known genetic causes of heart rhythm and sudden death related disorders in patients with epilepsy.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Detailed Description

The overall goals are to determine whether patients with epilepsy who have the highest risk of SUDEP have an underlying genetic cardiovascular disorder. The investigators are seeking patients with epilepsy who have a high risk of SUDEP identified by using a risk scoring tool called SUDEP-7 and/or have blood-relatives with a history of epilepsy, seizure, cardiac arrest, sudden death, drowning/near-drowning, syncope or heart rhythm disorder. The investigators may also include blood-relatives of patients with epilepsy and invite them to participate by providing a blood sample and/or buccal cells (from a swab or saliva) for genetic testing.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

600

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Minnesota
      • Rochester, Minnesota, United States, 55905
        • Recruiting
        • Mayo Clinic
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Erik K St. Louis, MD
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Anwar A Chahal, MD MRCP
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Michael J Ackerman, MD PhD
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Peter A Brady, MD FRCP FHRS

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 50 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Men and women diagnosed with epilepsy or seizures or unexplained syncope and blood relatives.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Adults ages 18 - 50 with a diagnosis of epilepsy or seizures, or syncope or drowning or cardiac arrest or sudden death or an abnormal ECG suggestive of an arrhythmia
  • Blood-relatives (Aged 18+) of a patient with a history of epilepsy, seizure, cardiac arrest, sudden death, drowning, syncope or arrhythmia

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Those who are unable to provide written consent.
  • Prisoners (vulnerable population)
  • Seizures secondary to ischemic events
  • Traumatic brain injury resulting in seizures
  • History of cranial surgery
  • History of brain tumor

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
High SUDEP risk cohort
Patients with epilepsy who have a high SUDEP-7 risk score and/or a blood-relative with epilepsy, seizure, cardiac arrest, sudden death, drowning/near-drowning, syncope or arrhythmia.
Low SUDEP risk cohort
Patients with epilepsy and a low SUDEP-7 score.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Using Next Generation Whole-Exome Sequencing, determine if an underlying genetic cardiac mutation is present in refractory epilepsy patients who are at highest risk of sudden death.
Time Frame: 3-5 years

SUDEP-7 is a risk profiling tool, with a score ranging from 0-12. Generally, a score greater than or equal to 3 is considered high risk. The investigators will select participants with a family history of epilepsy, seizures, cardiac arrest, sudden death, drowning, syncope or arrhythmia, as this markedly increases genetic yield.

Next Generation Whole-Exome Sequencing will be performed with a focus on known genes implicated in sudden unexpected death syndromes (channelopathies, cardiomyopathies and aortopathies) and autonomic control. Where relevant, blood-relatives may be invited for genomic 'trio' analyses.
3-5 years

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Mayo Clinic

Collaborators

American Heart Association

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Virend K. Somers, MD PhD, Mayo Clinic

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

May 1, 2016

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 1, 2028

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 1, 2029

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 22, 2016

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 2, 2016

First Posted (Estimated)

July 7, 2016

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

August 3, 2023

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 1, 2023

Last Verified

August 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 15-002420

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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