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A role for inflammation in status epilepticus is revealed by a review of current therapeutic approaches
Author(s) -
Janigro Damir,
Iffland II Philip H.,
Marchi Nicola,
Granata Tiziana
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
epilepsia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.687
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1528-1167
pISSN - 0013-9580
DOI - 10.1111/epi.12271
Subject(s) - status epilepticus , current (fluid) , neuroscience , inflammation , medicine , epilepsy , psychology , intensive care medicine , immunology , physics , thermodynamics
Summary A significant number of patients with epilepsy fail to respond to currently available antiepileptic drugs. This suggests a need for alternative approaches to reduce the occurrence of seizures in these patients. Recent data have shown that in addition to well‐known neuronal mechanism, seizures may be a consequence of misguided inflammatory response and blood–brain barrier disruption. Both peripheral and brain proinflammatory events have been demonstrated to govern the onset of status epilepticus. Evidence deriving from the experimental and clinical realms supports the notion that a role for proinflammatory and cerebrovascular events in seizure disorders is broader than previously suspected. As a result, methods to pharmacologically reduce blood–brain barrier permeability and reduce inflammation have emerged as means to reduce seizure burden. For instance, corticosteroids have been shown to be beneficial and the same agents may be able to further reduce seizure burden in conjunction with currently prescribed antiepileptic drugs.