Biomarkers and methods for detection of seizures and epilepsy

A method of treating epilepsy in a patient in need of epilepsy treatment, the method comprising:

• contacting a blood sample obtained from the patient with one or more antibodies targeting interleukin-16 (IL-16), wherein the one or more antibodies are capture, detect or a combination thereof antibodies;
• measuring the concentration of IL-16 in the blood sample;
• comparing the concentration of IL-16 in the blood sample to the concentration of IL-16 in a control;
• determining that the concentration of IL-16 in the blood sample obtained from the patient is elevated relative to the control, thus determining that the patient is in need of epilepsy treatment;
• and
• treating the patient for epilepsy, wherein the treating comprises administering to the patient one or more therapeutic agents selected from the group consisting of phenytoin, fosphenytoin, midazolam, pregabalin, acetazolamide, methsuximide, ethotoin, piracetam, nitrazepam, paraldehyde, stiripentol, vigabatrin, brivaracetam, perampanel, rufinamide, lurasidone HCl, carbamazepine, clobazam, clonazepam, diazepam, divalproex, eslicarbazepine acetate, ethosuxemide, ezogabine, felbamate, gabapentin, lacosamide, lamotrigine, levetiracetam, lorazepam, oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital, primidone, tiagabine, topiramate, valproic acid, zonisamide, cannabis-based drugs, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, prodrugs, and derivatives thereof.