Premium
Neuroinflammation imaging markers for epileptogenesis
Author(s) -
Koepp Matthias J.,
Årstad Eric,
Bankstahl Jens P.,
Dedeurwaerdere Stefanie,
Friedman Alon,
Potschka Heidrun,
Ravizza Teresa,
Theodore William H.,
Baram Tallie Z.
Publication year - 2017
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.13778
Subject(s) - epileptogenesis , epilepsy , status epilepticus , neuroinflammation , biomarker , medicine , disease , neuroscience , psychology , intensive care medicine , psychiatry , biochemistry , chemistry
Summary Epilepsy can be a devastating disorder. In addition to debilitating seizures, epilepsy can cause cognitive and emotional problems with reduced quality of life. Therefore, the major aim is to prevent the disorder in the first place: identify, detect, and reverse the processes responsible for its onset, and monitor and treat its progression. Epilepsy often occurs following a latent period of months to years (epileptogenesis) as a consequence of a brain insult, such as head trauma, stroke, or status epilepticus. Although this latent period clearly represents a therapeutic window, we are not able to stratify patients at risk for long‐term epilepsy, which is prerequisite for preventative clinical trials. Moreover, because of the length of the latent period, an early biomarker for treatment response would be of high value. Finally, mechanistic biomarkers of epileptogenesis may provide more profound insight in the process of disease development.