Establishment of a Database for Drug-Resistant Epilepsy, Isfahan Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Iran

Abstract

Background: Epilepsy is one of the most common diseases of central nervous system (CNS). In Iran, about 1,200,000 people suffering from this disease are living; many of them are drug-resistant to whom neurosurgery for removing the epileptic zone is suggested. For doing so, a series of preoperative assessments should be done to identify the epileptic zone. Since for each such patient, a wide variety of data are gathered, it is necessary to store and compile the data. Methods: In 2005, the Isfahan Comprehensive Epilepsy Center (ICEC) was formed as the first in Iran. Since then, until 2015, about 1673 patients with drug-resistant epilepsy were admitted in this center. Findings: For these patients, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 24-hour electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring were done. 709 patients were referred for further neuropsychiatric assessments. Epilepsy meeting was made to analyze and decide the method of treatment for these patients, and the data gathered during these processes were reviewed. About 330 patients were treated surgically, and others left the process. The most visible outcome of this program was the fact that all the data of all the patients were kept and gathered, 500 items for each patient. Conclusion: This data center is of the most comprehensive data centers in Iran. This data center received a great attention in Iran, and is confirmed by Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education as a referral center. It can be an infrastructure for a mega-datacenter in future in Iran to be used to study the pattern of brain and behavior relations.

Keywords

• Database
• Drug-resistant epilepsy
• Iran