Clinical Epileptology

Our group addresses issues concerning clinical epileptology as well as the patient-centered care structures of patients with epilepsy and other seizure disorders. Our current key aspects are treatment options with transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation, invasive vagus nerve stimulation, and cannabidiol.

Current publications (selected):

• Badr M, Helmstaedter C, Moskau-Hartmann S, Pukropski J, Witt J-A, Rüber T, Dague KO, Baumgartner T, Rademacher M, Surges R, Wrede R von (2025) Cenobamate in Real-Word Scenario: Results on Efficacy, Side Effects, and Retention Rate in a Single Center Retrospective Study. Brain Behav 15:e70567.
• Held NR et al. (2025) Quantitative susceptibility mapping at 7T as a biomarker of post- and interictal extravascular iron in patients with focal epilepsy. EBioMedicine 122:106040.
• Kilburg RL, Moskau-Hartmann S, Helmstaedter C, Surges R, Wrede R von (2025) Green epileptology: Acceptance of telemedical follow-up under climate protection aspects. Epilepsia Open. doi:10.1002/epi4.70162.
• Witt J-A, Badr M, Surges R, Wrede R von, Helmstaedter C (2025) The Effects of Cenobamate and Its Dosage on Cognition: A Retrospective Longitudinal Study in 84 Individuals with Epilepsy. CNS Drugs. doi:10.1007/s40263-025-01196-2.
• Bauer T et al. (2024) Rasmussen’s encephalitis: structural, functional, and clinical correlates of contralesional epileptiform activity. J Neurol 271:6680–6691.
• Bitzer F et al. (2024) Higher Validity, Lower Radiation: A New Ictal Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography Framework. Ann Neurol 96:1160-1173.
• Bröhl T, Rings T, Pukropski J, Wrede R von, Lehnertz K (2024) The time-evolving epileptic brain network: concepts, definitions, accomplishments, perspectives. Front Netw Physiol 3:1338864.
• Holtkamp M et al. (2024) Erster epileptischer Anfall und Epilepsien im Erwachsenenalter : Kurzfassung S2k-Leitlinie der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Neurologie in Zusammenarbeit mit der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Epileptologie = First epileptic seizure and epilepsies in adulthood : abridged version of the S2k guideline of the German Society for Neurology in cooperation with the German Society for Epileptology. Clin Epileptol 37:118–139.
• Pukropski J, Baumann J, Jordan A, Bausch M, Wrede R von, Surges R (2024) Short-term effects of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on T-wave alternans in people with focal epilepsy - An exploratory pilot study. Epilepsy Behav Rep 26:100657.
• Walger L et al. (2024) A Quantitative Comparison Between Human and Artificial Intelligence in the Detection of Focal Cortical Dysplasia. Invest Radiol 60:253-259.
• Wrede R von, Witt J-A, Jessen N, Lossius MI, Moskau-Hartmann S, Helmstaedter C (2024) Screening for depression in patients with epilepsy: What are the benefits for physicians and patients in the real-life setting. Epilepsia 65:3076-3082.
• Wrede R von, Witt J-A, Auvin S, Devlin A, Lagae L, Marson A, Meador KJ, O Brien TJ, Park J, Surges R, Trinka E, Wiebe S, Helmstaedter C (2023) Unjustified allegation on cancer risks in children of mothers with epilepsy taking high-dose folic acid during pregnancy - No proof of a causal relationship. Epilepsia. doi:10.1111/epi.17680.
• Wrede R von, Witt J-A, Helmstaedter C (2023) Big Data - Big Trouble: The two faces of publishing results from big data studies based on cohorts with poor clinical definition. Seizure 111:21–22.
• Schach S, Rings T, Bregulla M, Witt J-A, Bröhl T, Surges R, Wrede R von, Lehnertz K, Helmstaedter C (2022) Electrodermal Activity Biofeedback Alters Evolving Functional Brain Networks in People With Epilepsy, but in a Non-specific Manner. Front Neurosci 16:828283.
• Wrede R von, Bröhl T, Rings T, Pukropski J, Helmstaedter C, Lehnertz K (2022) Modifications of Functional Human Brain Networks by Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation: Impact of Time of Day. Brain Sci 12.
• Wrede R von, Rings T, Bröhl T, Pukropski J, Schach S, Helmstaedter C, Lehnertz K (2022) Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation Differently Modifies Functional Brain Networks of Subjects With Different Epilepsy Types. Front Hum Neurosci 16:867563.
• Rings T, Wrede R von, Bröhl T, Schach S, Helmstaedter C, Lehnertz K (2021) Impact of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Large-Scale Functional Brain Networks: From Local to Global. Front Physiol 12:700261.
• Wrede R von, Helmstaedter C, Surges R (2021) Cannabidiol in the Treatment of Epilepsy. Clin Drug Investig. doi:10.1007/s40261-021-01003-y.
• Wrede R von, Pukropski J, Moskau-Hartmann S, Surges R, Baumgartner T (2021) COVID-19 vaccination in patients with epilepsy: First experiences in a German tertiary epilepsy center. Epilepsy Behav 122:108160.
• Wrede R von, Rings T, Schach S, Helmstaedter C, Lehnertz K (2021) Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation induces stabilizing modifications in large-scale functional brain networks: towards understanding the effects of taVNS in subjects with epilepsy. Sci Rep 11:7906.
• Wrede R von, Surges R (2021) Patient-zu-Arzt-Anwendungen in der ambulanten Epilepsieversorgung. Z. Epileptol. 34:306–310.
• Wrede R von, Surges R (2021) Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation in the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy. Auton Neurosci 235:102840.
• Wrede R von, Moskau-Hartmann S, Amarell N, Surges R, Erich Elger C, Helmstaedter C (2020) Plant derived versus synthetic cannabidiol: Wishes and commitment of epilepsy patients. Seizure 80:92–95.
• Wrede R von, Moskau-Hartmann S, Baumgartner T, Helmstaedter C, Surges R (2020) Counseling of people with epilepsy via telemedicine: Experiences at a German tertiary epilepsy center during the COVID-19 pandemic. Epilepsy Behav 112:107298.
• Wrede R von, Moskau-Hartmann S, Amarell N, Elger CE, Helmstaedter C (2019) Knowledge, expectations and fears of cannabis use of epilepsy patients at a tertiary epilepsy center. Epilepsy Behav 99:106458.
• Wrede R von, Moskau-Hartmann S, Rüber T, Helmstaedter C, Surges R (2019) Sustained seizure freedom with transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation in drug-resistant epilepsy caused by subcortical band heterotopias. Seizure 70:25–26.
• Müller I, Elger CE, Wrede R von (2009) Social aspects in epilepsy: educational, employment and social situation in patients with epilepsy. Abstracts of the 6th Joint Meeting of the German, Austrian, and Swiss Sections of the International League Against Epilepsy. Epilepsia 50:43.