Blood Biomarkers Offer New Avenues in Epilepsy Diagnosis and Seizure Prediction
Researchers at Lund University in Sweden identified elevated immune proteins in blood samples taken before and after epileptic seizures. The team suggests these proteins could serve as biomarkers for epilepsy, potentially enabling a blood test to support diagnosis and future seizure forecasting. The study adds to a growing body of evidence that peripheral biomarkers may reflect neuronal events during seizures and could complement existing diagnostic tools.
Currently the primary method for diagnosing epilepsy is the electroencephalogram, or EEG. Yet EEG results can be normal between events or fail to capture activity during an onset. In some cases a seizure may occur without immediate brain activity abnormalities detectable by EEG, complicating timely diagnosis. This has led researchers to seek additional biomarkers that can be measured noninvasively and provide more consistent diagnostic signals, especially in urgent clinical settings.
In this study, 56 participants were enrolled, including individuals with epilepsy and those experiencing psychogenic seizures. Blood samples were collected both before and after seizures to assess immune-related proteins. The results showed a prominent increase in five immune proteins after a seizure in people with epilepsy, while one protein rose even before a seizure began. In contrast, these biomarkers did not show meaningful changes in participants with psychogenic seizures, helping to distinguish epileptic events from non-epileptic episodes.
The authors interpret these patterns as promising indicators that a blood-based analysis could someday aid in diagnosing epilepsy and predicting seizures. They note that further research with larger and more diverse patient groups is needed to verify the findings and to determine how best to implement such tests in routine clinical practice. Additional studies would aim to refine the biomarker panel and assess factors such as variability across individuals, medication effects, and the timing of biomarker changes relative to seizure onset. The overall direction is toward a combined diagnostic approach that integrates traditional clinical evaluation with targeted blood-based assays to improve accuracy and speed of care.
These results contribute to a broader understanding of how peripheral immune signals relate to brain excitability and seizure activity. If validated in broader populations, the identified immune proteins could become part of a multi-modal diagnostic algorithm, offering a noninvasive tool to support clinicians in making timely and accurate decisions. The possibility of predicting seizures in the future remains an exciting prospect, as early warning could help patients manage risks and optimize treatment strategies. Researchers emphasize the need for collaborative efforts to confirm these findings and to explore how such tests might be integrated with imaging, electrophysiology, and personalized treatment plans.
Overall, the study underlines a hopeful path toward improved epilepsy care through blood-based biomarkers. By confirming robust changes in specific immune proteins around seizure events and demonstrating a clear difference from psychogenic seizures, the work lays groundwork for future diagnostic innovations and proactive seizure management.