Why Do People With Epilepsy Get More Infections?

What this study involves

The registry says this study is recruiting. Individual locations may have different availability.

Study type

Observational

Phase

Not applicable / not listed

Age range

16 years - Not specified

Sex eligible

All sexes

Healthy volunteers

Not reported

Participants

500 Estimated

These are starting points, not an eligibility decision. The research team must review the full requirements.

About the research

People with epilepsy are predisposed to having seizures ("fits"), where abnormal electrical activity in the brain disrupts normal brain functioning. It is a common condition with around 1% of the population of Scotland having this condition. They are treated with anti-seizure medications, drugs which reduce the chance of having seizures.

Unfortunately, people with epilepsy are more likely to have severe infections than those without epilepsy and this is known to increase risk of seizures. The reasons for more severe infections in people with epilepsy are unclear, but one factor may be that anti-seizure medications impair the function of the body's immune system, which fights infection. The investigators' previous work looking at residents in the North-East of Scotland showed a link between these medications and risk of infection.

The investigators plan to study people being started on antiseizure medications (ASMs) with a new diagnosis of epilepsy and those already on ASMs with an established diagnosis of epilepsy in NHS Grampian. The investigators will compare with people not taking ASMs in a group of people with a single seizure and in a group of people with migraine.

The investigators will investigate immune function and infection risk with more-detailed information about individual's background, their seizures/epilepsy, other health conditions, and blood tests. The investigators will then do laboratory experiments to determine how ASMs may impair the immune system by looking at the function of types of white blood cells that play an important part in immune functioning.

The investigators also wish to develop statistical tools which can identify an individual's risk of infection when starting ASMs, based on their demographic, medical and social characteristics, to target closer monitoring/changes in treatment to those with higher risk.

This research will allow healthcare professionals to provide better individualised care in terms of which medication to use for treatment, what doses to use and whether blood tests to screen for impaired immune function would be helpful. The aim is that this will lead to reduced risk of infections in people with epilepsy, resulting in better outcomes in this condition.

Who may be able to participate?

The list below is the sponsor’s full registry wording. It can include conditions, prior treatment, test results and other requirements. A match in search does not mean you qualify.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Adults aged 16 or over
2. Resident in an area covered by NHS Grampian neurology service
3. Individuals with:

1. A diagnosis of first unprovoked (or reflex) seizure; or
2. A new diagnosis of epilepsy (at least two unprovoked (or reflex) seizures occurring more than 24 hours apart)); or
3. Established diagnosis of epilepsy; or
4. A diagnosis of migraine
4. Able to give informed consent to participate or, if lacking capacity, a reliable Welfare Guardian/Welfare Attorney/Nearest Relative can give consent on behalf of the participant.

Definition of established epilepsy in this context:

1. The individual was diagnosed with epilepsy prior to the consultation at which the clinician referred them to the research team; or
2. When a potential participant is identified from a previous clinic consultation, they already have a diagnosis of epilepsy.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Functional (non-epileptic) seizures without epileptic seizures or migraine. If the patient has both epileptic and functional seizures, or migraine and functional seizures, they would be eligible for inclusion, provided they meet the other criteria.
2. Acute symptomatic seizure(s) without previous or subsequent unprovoked seizure(s) (e.g. due to head trauma, severe infection, significant electrolyte abnormality, alcohol withdrawal) would be an exclusion from the first seizure/epilepsy group.
3. First seizure group:

a) Those taking or are planned to be started on antiseizure medication(s)
4. New diagnosis of epilepsy group:

1. Those not planned to be started on an antiseizure medication
2. Those taking, or are planned to be started on, two or more antiseizure medications
3. Those already taking an antiseizure medication at the time of their new diagnosis of epilepsy
5. Established epilepsy group:

1. Those taking, or are planned to be started on, two or more antiseizure medications
2. Those not taking an antiseizure medication, even if planned to be started on an antiseizure medication
6. Migraine control group:

1. Receiving treatment with antiseizure medications; or
2. Receiving immunosuppressive\* treatment for another condition; or
3. Medical history of single unprovoked seizure or epilepsy

• Exclusion due to immunosuppression increasing risk of immune dysfunction. Immunosuppression is not an exclusion criterion for first seizure/epilepsy groups as immunosuppression will be used as a variable for other analyses, including risk prediction analyses.

Study population

Resident in an area covered by NHS Grampian neurology service.

Potential participants will have either been reviewed by the neurology team as an inpatient or outpatient.

Treatment, groups and participation

The registry may describe treatments and study duration without a complete visit calendar. Ask the study team for the exact schedule, procedures, risks, costs and alternatives. Keep your usual care plan unless your treating clinician tells you otherwise.

Assignment

Not reported

Masking

Not reported

What researchers are measuring

Outcome measures describe what is being studied. They are not proof that a treatment works.

Primary measures

Secondary measures

Research locations (1)

The overall study status and a local site’s status can differ. Confirm that location’s availability before traveling.

1 locations

Study team and timeline

Lead sponsor

University of Aberdeen

Study start

Nov 4, 2026 Actual

Primary completion

2038-05 Estimated

Study completion

2038-05 Estimated

First posted

Oct 29, 2026 Actual

Last updated

Nov 10, 2026 Actual

Official study contacts

No central contact is listed. Check the locations and the official record.