Rare and complex epilepsies

The Epileptology Clinic of the Erasmus Hospital and Queen Fabiola Children’s University Hospital (HUDERF) possesses specific expertise in treating complex epilepsies.  The centre is recognised by the INAMI/RIZIV [Belgian National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance] as an approved Belgian centre for the treatment of refractory epilepsies.  The rooms at our Epilepsy Exploration Unit ere specially equipped for prolonged video EEG monitoring. The Erasmus Hospital is specialised in intracranial EEG monitoring for the pre-surgery assessment of refractory epilepsies while the HUDERF is specialised in treating epilepsy in children. The multidisciplinary approach at the two sites permits a full range of diagnostic and treatment methods, from the latest medicines and ketogenic diet to surgery.   

The H.U.B’s Rare Diseases Function provides access to leading edge  genetic diagnostic technologies that make it possible to identify a genetic cause in a large number of patients with rare and complex  epilepsies and thereby permit targeted treatment. 

Thanks to close cooperation with neuropaediatrics at the Erasmus Hospital and the HUDERF we are able to offer paediatric patients a structured transition to care in adulthood that is adapted specifically to the individual needs of each patient. Our multidisciplinary medical and paramedical care allows us to treat not only epilepsy but also the medical conditions that are often associated with epilepsy.

Genetic factors play an important role in epilepsy, especially if the epilepsy first appears in childhood or is associated with developmental disorders.  Specialised genetic testing is then indicated. Several hundred genes are associated with epilepsy. Identifying a genetic cause not only permits a precise diagnosis but also genetic advice, the prognosis and – increasingly frequently – precision treatment. 

For patients with refractory epilepsy, pre-surgery exploration can lead to a surgical solution (brain surgery, gamma knife, vagus nerve stimulation, deep brain stimulation, Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (LITT).

Other areas of expertise and research activities:

• Prolonged EEG monitoring at the Intensive Care Unit to diagnose epileptic seizures in seriously ill patients
• Participation in pharmaceutical trials sponsored by the industry on the use of the latest drugs
• Participation in research and expertise networks:
  1. Epinord (Franco-Belgian intracranial ’EEG expertise group)
  2. ERN EpiCARE (European Reference Network for Rare and Complex Epilepsies)
  3. The genetic research networks EpiGen, Epi25 and Consortium on Complex Epilepsies of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE)
  4. Critical Care EEG Monitoring Research Consortium(CCEMRC) 

• Epileptology Clinic
• HUDERF Department of Neuropaediatrics
• Epilepsy Exploration Unit
• ERN EpiCARE (European Reference Network for Rare and Complex Epilepsies)
• Epi25 Network
• Consortium on Complex Epilepsies of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE)
• Critical Care EEG Monitoring Research Consortium (CCEMRC)

Patients’ associations:

• https://ligueepilepsie.be
• https://www.epilepsieliga.be

Neurologists specialising in epilepsy:

• Prof. Chantal Depondt (Head of the Rare Neurological Diseases Clinic)
• Prof. Nicolas Gaspard (Head of the Department of Neurology)

• Dr. Benjamin Legros (Head of the Adult Epileptology Clinic and of the Reference Centre for the treatment of Refractory Epilepsy)

Paediatricians specialising in epilepsy:

• Prof. Alec Aeby (Head of the Department of Neuropaediatrics)
• Dr. Tom Balfroid (Erasmus Hospital)
• Dr. Cynthia Prigogine (HUDERF)
• Dr. Claudine Sculier (Erasmus Hospital – Medical consultant at the Epilepsy Exploration Unit)
• Dr. Pauline Van Gyseghem (HUDERF)