An Observational Study of Epilepsy: Biology and Outcomes Using Real-world Data

This is an observational study of people with epilepsy seen in South Wales, which will employ quantitative methods of analysis to meet the study aims. The study will build upon data already collected during routine clinical appointments from people with epilepsy who have come into contact with the National Health Service (NHS) epilepsy service at Cardiff & Vale University Health Board. The epilepsy service has clinical data on over 5000 people with epilepsy, and biological samples on approximately 400 people through the Welsh Neuroscience Research Tissue Bank.

The investigators propose to approach individuals being seen in the epilepsy clinics to gain consent for access to their routinely collected clinical and paraclinical data, and prospective donation of biological samples (predominantly blood samples, though consent will be sought for surplus brain tissue and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) if brain surgery or lumbar puncture are being performed as part of clinical care, as well as hair, nail, and urine in some circumstances). This will enable a comprehensive disease register of a population-based sample of people with epilepsy to be established.

Interrogating the clinical and paraclinical data will allow investigation into clinical phenotypes, short- and long-term outcomes in epilepsy, and the relationship of clinical, demographic and biological variables. Biological samples will allow biochemical and genetic analysis of potential markers of disease, clinical phenotype, and prediction of outcomes including treatment responses, and allow contribution to the Epi25 international collaborative (http://epi-25.org/).

Inclusion in the study will involve no change to the normal clinical care or treatment of participants (except where participants choose to provide biological samples), and additional clinic visits will not be required outside of standard NHS care.