The concentration of cell-free DNA in video-EEG patients is dependent on the epilepsy syndrome and duration of epilepsy.
OBJECTIVE
Cell-free DNA (cf-DNA) is a marker of inflammation and cell death. The purpose of the present study was to analyze the role of cf-DNA as a putative biomarker in refractory epilepsy.


METHODS
Baseline concentration of cf-DNA was measured in the serum of 51 carefully evaluated refractory epilepsy patients undergoing video-EEG monitoring. Epilepsy was classified based on seizure semiology, patient history, and imaging findings. Majority of the patients (47) had focal epilepsy. The association of the concentration cf-DNA with different clinical determinants was analyzed. 250 healthy individuals served as control subjects.


RESULTS
The mean baseline concentration of cf-DNA was lower in patients with extra temporal lobe epilepsy (XTLE) compared to control subjects (0.72 μg/ml vs. 0.80 μg/ml; p = 0.001). The difference in concentration of cf-DNA between patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and control subjects was not significant. The maximum concentration of cf-DNA after baseline measurement was significantly lower in patients with duration of epilepsy ≥ 18 years compared to those with duration of epilepsy < 18 years (0.022 μg/ml vs. 0.031 μg/ml; p = 0.044). The maximum concentration of cf-DNA was higher in patients with body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 compared to those with BMI < 25 (0.004 μg/ml vs. 0.041 μg/ml; p = 0.006).


CONCLUSIONS
The difference in cf-DNA concentration between patients with XTLE and control subjects strengthens the previous observations of the importance of epilepsy type with regard of different biomarkers.
a Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation , Tampere University Hospital , Tampere , Finland.
Tiina
T
Alapirtti
b Department of Microbiology and Immunology , University of Tampere, School of Medicine , Tampere , Finland.
Juulia
J
Jylhävä
c School of Health Sciences , University of Tampere , Finland and UKK Institute for Health Promotion , Tampere , Finland.
Jani
J
Raitanen
d Medical Imaging Centre , Pirkanmaa Hospital District , Tampere , Finland.
Riikka
R
Mäkinen
a Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation , Tampere University Hospital , Tampere , Finland.
Jukka
J
Peltola
b Department of Microbiology and Immunology , University of Tampere, School of Medicine , Tampere , Finland.|e The Laboratory Centre , Tampere University Hospital , Tampere , Finland.
Mikko A
MA
Hurme
a Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation , Tampere University Hospital , Tampere , Finland.
Suvi
S
Liimatainen
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014741:Video Recording
D004247:DNA
Cell-free DNA; Duration of epilepsy; Extra-temporal lobe epilepsy; Focal epilepsy; Temporal lobe epilepsy