Focal Onset Epilepsy, Partial Epilepsy
Conditions
Keywords
epilepsy, thermography
Brief summary
The specific aim is to determine if there are patterns of temperature differences in the abdominal and back regions of individuals with partial/focal onset epilepsy as compared to a non-epileptic control group. The hypothesis is that individuals with partial/focal onset epilepsy will have colder recorded temperatures in the abdominal area than individuals in a matched control group.
Detailed description
The concept of Abdominal Epilepsy has been described in the neurology literature. The present study seeks to amplify understanding of this clinical entity by measuring abdominal area and low back skin temperature changes which may be affected through the function of the abdominal ganglia, specifically the Celiac, Superior Mesenteric and Inferior Mesenteric Ganglia. This not an intervention study. It is study comparing abdominal area and low back skin temperature in individuals with the Partial/Focal Onset Epilepsy with a match control group of individuals with no epilepsy history. The implications of the outcome of the finding any significant temperature changes between the experimental and control groups is great enough to warrant the highest level of scientific scrutiny that this registration permits.
Interventions
None listed
Sponsors
A.T. Still University of Health Sciences
Atlantic University
Study design
Observational model
CASE_CONTROL
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 70 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Experimental Group: 1. Diagnosis of Partial/Focal Onset Epilepsy (ICD9-CM 345.4 and 345.5) 2. Ages 18-70
Exclusion criteria
Experimental Group: 1. Pregnancy 2. Recent trauma such as motor vehicle accident or injury to the musculoskeletal system 3. Currently on medication, other than for epilepsy which may affect autonomic nervous system function, e.g. Glaucoma medication 4. If diagnosed with a condition which could affect abdominal area neurophysiologic functions. 1. Irritable bowel syndrome 2. Crohn's disease 3. Ulcerative colitis 4. Migraine headache with abdominal manifestation Inclusion criteria Control group: 1. No history or diagnosis of any seizure disorder 2. Ages 18-70
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Thermographic imagery of the abdominal area | Each experimental subject and each control subject will be seen once for the administration of the thermography imagery | State of the art thermographic imagery of the imagery of the abdominal area from the xyphoid bone to just above the public symphysis. It is hypothesized that the average temperature for the experimental group will be lower than the control group. Since this is a measurement or diagnostic study using thermographic imagery, there is no health risk to the subjects. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| low back thermography imagery | one time for thermographic imagery | Besides abdominal area will also do theographic imagery of low back of subjects because of the possibility of dermatomal skin area temperature changes possibly related the Abdominal Epilepsy dysfunction of the Celiac, Superior Mesenteric and Inferior Mesenteric Ganglia |
| side thermography imagery | one time for thermographic imagery | To capture possible dermatomal skin temperature effects will do thermographic imagery of the side or lateral aspect of the subjects. |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed