My {*filter*}age daughter has recently been diagnosed as epileptic, on the basis
of two classic grand mal seizures, without any confirmatory evidence from
EEG, CT scan etc.  She suffers from cystic fibrosis, well controlled by
medication + exercise, and we were told there was no link between the two
conditions.  We now find 5 or 6 similar cases in the clinic she has
transferred to in the local state capital city. I don't accept that number
as a coincidence.

Anyone out there with any information / research direction /whatever in
this field?

Ray Fairfield
University of Southern Queensland
Toowoomba, Queensland, AUSTRALIA

[{*filter*}age daughter with epilepsy and cystic fibrosis]

Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional, nor is this medical advice.

The diseases seem pretty distinct, but I wonder if in these cases both
diseases are expressions of genetic disorder caused by the same
mutagen -- presumably there are other commonalities between the cases
(geography, etc.) besides just the diseases.

You might try to correlate the genetic understanding of the two diseases;
here are a couple of references I pulled (*not* from a comprehensive
search) on epilepsy and genetics (CF and genetics is pretty easy to find,
of course):

  "Localization of idiopathic generalized epilepsy on chromosome 6p in
  families of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy patients."; Neurology, Oct 1991
  v41 n10 p1651(5).

  "Second gene for epilepsy mapped. (Unverricht-Lunborg disease)"; New
  Scientist, May 25, 1991 v130 n1770 p23(1).

  "Twins shed light on inherited epilepsy."; New Scientist, May 18, 1991
  v130 n1769 p24(1).

Pete