Faculty Research

Raj Sheth

Lab Location: Clinical Science Center

Contact Info:
CSC H6/552
Secretary: 608.263.8551
Email: sheth@neurology.wisc.edu
Faculty Profile : Dr. Sheth
Publications: PubMed
Provider page: UW Health

Research

Our group studies bone pathology in children and adults with epilepsy.  We employ a multidisciplinary approach using endocrine and bone densitometric evaluations to study how bone health may be affected by epilepsy and/or its treatment.  These approaches investigate bone changes in epilepsy including bone mineralization, accumulation, and maintenance as well as involutional changes (osteoporosis) in patients with epilepsy. 

Previously we have demonstrated that patients with epilepsy experience low-impact fractures at younger ages than would be expected in the general population.  Such fractures occur in age groups not at risk for the normal involutional changes seen in the non-epilepsy population.  We also demonstrated that there is a progressive bone deficit that is seen in epilepsy.  Gender differences in bone accumulation were also demonstrated, with both men and women being at higher risk of future fractures.  We examined the effects of therapy and demonstrated effects of antiepileptic medication on bone in children and that polytherapy having the maximum bone adverse effect.  We showed that patients with symptomatic and idotopathic epilepsy were at risk compared to the general population and with a greater risk for those with generalized seizures compared to those with partial seizures.  We are currently examining the pathogenic mechanisms that may underlie bone disorders that are seen in aptients with epilepsy. 

We plan to examine therapeutic modalities that may be used to treat and prevent bone disorders in epilepsy.