Basic Mechanisms of Epilepsy: Targets for Therapeutic Intervention

Although a wide variety of drugs are available for treatment of epilepsy, many patients with epilepsy still experience uncontrolled seizures. In addition, there is a need for new drugs that can halt epileptogenesis after brain injury. Mechanisms that underlie seizure processes constitute potential t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Epilepsia (Copenhagen) 1997-01, Vol.38 (s9), p.S2-S6
Main Author: Dichter, Marc A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adenosine
Animals
Anticonvulsants
Anticonvulsants - pharmacology
Anticonvulsants - therapeutic use
Biological and medical sciences
Brain - drug effects
Brain - physiopathology
Brain Diseases - physiopathology
Brain Injuries - physiopathology
Calcium Channels - drug effects
Calcium Channels - physiology
Calcium currents
Cats
Drug Design
Drug development
Electroencephalography - drug effects
Epilepsy - drug therapy
Epilepsy - physiopathology
Epilepsy, Generalized - drug therapy
Epilepsy, Generalized - physiopathology
GABA
Headache. Facial pains. Syncopes. Epilepsia. Intracranial hypertension. Brain oedema. Cerebral palsy
Hippocampus - drug effects
Hippocampus - physiopathology
Humans
Interictal discharges
Medical sciences
Mice
Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes)
Neural Conduction - drug effects
Neural Conduction - physiology
Neural Inhibition - drug effects
Neural Inhibition - physiology
Neurology
NMDA
Partial seizures
Primary generalized seizures
Receptors, GABA - drug effects
Receptors, GABA - physiology
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Summary:Although a wide variety of drugs are available for treatment of epilepsy, many patients with epilepsy still experience uncontrolled seizures. In addition, there is a need for new drugs that can halt epileptogenesis after brain injury. Mechanisms that underlie seizure processes constitute potential target areas for the development of new antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). An understanding of the underlying mechanisms of interictal spike discharge and seizure spread is critical for the development of AEDs for treatment of partial seizures. Suppression of specific forms of voltage‐dependent calcium currents and inhibition of GABAB receptor‐mediated inhibition are two key target areas for new AEDs to treat primary generalized seizures. As researchers gain more understanding of the cellular, molecular, and genetic mechanisms underlying seizure propagation, we should be better able to develop therapeutic agents designed to suppress seizure‐provoking mechanisms and to enhance the brain's natural protective mechanisms.
ISSN:0013-9580
1528-1167
DOI:10.1111/j.1528-1157.1997.tb05200.x