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 ...