The aim of the study is to use multiparametric cardiac MRI to identify any abnormalities in myocardial structure and function in patients with epilepsy. A two-stage study design is planned as part of the study:

1. In the acute setting, cardiac MRI will be performed in patients before and after a tonic-clonic seizure and compared intraindividually. In this study arm, potential acute seizure-induced myocardial damage will be detected.
2. In the chronic setting, cardiac MRI will be performed in patients with known chronic epilepsy during the seizure-free interval to detect potential chronic myocardial damage (myocardial fibrosis) and compared with a control population. Within the group of epilepsy patients, possible associations with various epilepsy-specific characteristics (e.g., form, cause, onset, duration, and severity of epilepsy) will be investigated.

Inclusion criteria:

1. diagnosed epilepsy
2. examination under usual antiepileptic pharmacotherapy or medication up-dosing (if medication was reduced during video-EEG recording)
3. age between 18-60 years

Exclusion criteria:

1. underlying cardiac disease, e.g. coronary artery disease, previous myocardial infarction, previous myocarditis, complex congenital heart defect, known cardiomyopathy of other cause
2. pregnant and breastfeeding women
3. patients who use IUD for contraception
4. patients with a contraindication to contrast enhanced MRI

Patients with epilepsy with treatment in the Clinic and Polyclinic for Epileptology of the University Hospital Bonn (Primary care clinic)