Name Frans S.S. Leijten
Depatment of Neurology and Neurosurgery
Section Brain Function and Plasticity
Function Associate professor
E-mail
fleijten@umcutrecht.nl Tel: +31 88-755 7968
Pager: 1832
Title research line Epileptic source localization
Decision-making in epilepsy surgery
Summary research (1) Epileptic source localization is the essential first step towards epilepsy surgery in patients with intractable focal epilepsy. This can be done with EEG, magneto-encephalography (MEG), PET and EEG-correlated functional MRI. In our line of research we try to establish the accuracy and clinical usefulness of these methods, comparing results with electrocorticography (EEG registered directly from the cortex) as a gold standard. Electrocorticography is performed during operations or, when chronic intracranial monitoring is required, at the Intensive Epilepsy Monitoring Unit.
(2) Development of a seizure detection system that can be used in a home environment. This is part of a large project that involves all epilepsy centra, the UMC Utrecht and Pontes Medical, supported by NWO.
(3) In collaboration with the departments of Genetics, Pharmacology and the Julius Centre for Epidemiological Research, a large database will be established to study the causes for medical intractability in epilepsy.
Publications Zijlmans M, Huiskamp G, Hersevoort M, Seppenwoolde JH, Van Huffelen AC, Leijten FSS. EEG-fMRI in the pre-operative workup for epilepsy surgery. Brain 2007; 130:2343-53.
Uijl SG, Leijten FSS, Arends JBAM, Parra J, Van Huffelen AC, Moons KGM. Prognosis after temporal lobe epilepsy surgery: The value of combining predictors. Epilepsia 2008;49:1317-23.
Leijten FSS, Huiskamp G. Interictal electromagnetic source imaging in focal epilepsy: practices, results and recommendations. Curr Opin Neurol 2008;24:437-45.
Agirre-Arrizubieta Z, Huiskamp GJM, Ferrier CH, Van Huffelen AC, Leijten FSS. Interictal MEG and the irritative zone in the electrocorticogram. Brain 2009;132:3060-71.
Westerhuis W, Zijlmans M, Fischer K, Van Andel J, Leijten FSS. Coping style and quality of life in patients with epilepsy: a cross-sectional study. J Neurol (in press).