SIG | Intractable Generalized Epilepsy: The Use of RNS in Generalized Epilepsy, Ketogenic Diet, Epilepsy Genes & Implications for Diagnosis and Treatment

Friday, December 3, 2021
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OVERVIEW:

This SIG encourages the use of novel techniques for accurate diagnosis and early treatment rather than later management, with the ultimate goal of better seizure control.

Treatment of generalized epilepsy in the genomic era continues to be challenging. Unlike its counterpart, focal epilepsy, curative options are limited. The multi-faceted purpose of this Intractable Generalized Epilepsy Special Interest Group is to:

  1. Outline genetic criteria to help avoid misdiagnosis of GGE and identify genetic findings relevant for drug responseI
  2. Identify the role and practical approach of the ketogenic diet and its modified forms in the treatment of adult epilepsy
  3. Explore the role of Responsive Nerve Stimulation (RNS) in generalized epilepsy

While generalized seizures appear electrographically widespread on EEG data indicates these seizures do involve specific networks, conferring the base for using VNS, DBS, Corpus Callosotomy, and more recent RNS targeting the anterior thalamic nucleus in appropriate cases. This sessions showcases clinical cases with a wide range of diagnostic and therapeutic dilemmas and their response to the above-mentioned interventions. This session is intended to provide clinicians with options to impact the treatment of intractable generalized epilepsy and its comorbidities.

Learning Objectives:

Following participation in this activity, participants will be able to:

  • Avoid misdiagnosis of generalized genetic epilepsy and recognize genetic findings with relevance to drug response
  • Select appropriate epilepsy patients for dietary therapy and appropriately monitor its possible side effect
  • Describe the principle of Responsive Nerve Stimulator and its role in refractory generalized epilepsy alone or in combination with additional therapies

Program:

SIG Coordinator: Aradia Fu, MD, John Fitzgerald, MD, and Arpan Patel, MD

Chair: Aradia Fu, MD

Epilepsy Genetics | Ingo Helbig, MD

Ketogenic Diet in Adult Generalized Epilepsy | Mackenzie Cervenka, MD

RNS in Generalized Epilepsy | Robert Mark Richardson, PhD, MD

Activity Type
Special Interest Group
Credit
Non-CME
Format
In person
On-demand
Career Stage
Early Career (typically 0-5 years from completion of training)
Mid-Career (typically 6-15 years from completion of training)
Senior (typically >15 years from completion of training)
Audience
Clinicians
Fellows/Trainees
Nurses
Pharmacists
Scientists/Researchers
Demographic
Clinical
Research
Young Professionals