Conference Coverage
MRI brainstem volume loss predicts SUDEP
SAN DIEGO – Study shows brainstem MRI ought to be further studied as a clinically useful biomarker to identify patients at risk for SUDEP.
There was limited overlap between the areas of structural change potentially associated with SUDEP in the studies presented by Dr. Mueller and Mr. George, but Dr. Mueller said that SUDEP might not stem from a single epilepsy-induced brain abnormality. She reported that more MRI scans to trace structural changes in SUDEP patients are likely to identify more areas of interest. Acquiring a large number of MRI scans is a challenge, but Dr. Mueller envisions a registry where routine scans could be submitted. This would permit this research to be conducted on a larger scale.
“There is a similar initiative to collect MRI brain images of patients with Alzheimer’s disease,” said Dr. Mueller, noting that this provides a precedent for the type of research needed in epilepsy. If a similar program could be undertaken in epilepsy, Dr. Mueller believes it might substantially accelerate the effort to understand and recognize risk of SUDEP.
Mr. George’s study was funded by FACES (Finding a CURE for Epilepsy/Seizures). Dr. Mueller’s study was funded by grants from UCSF, the Epilepsy Foundation, and the National Institutes of Health.
Dr. Mueller and Mr. George reported no potential conflicts of interest related to this topic.
SOURCE: Mueller S et al., AES 2017 abstract 3.205 and George A et al., AES 2017 abstract 3.214
