Beta
399758

Advances and Challenges in Understanding and Treating Epilepsy: A Concise Review

Article

Last updated: 05 Jan 2025

Subjects

-

Tags

Pharmaceutical Sciences

Abstract

Epilepsy is a chronic brain disorder characterized by recurrent and unprovoked seizures. The uncontrolled, abnormal, paroxysmal discharge of neurons in the brain initiates seizures, which are clinical manifestations of epilepsy. The International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) classified seizures into three categories: focal, generalized, and unknown-onset seizures, based on clinical characteristics and affected brain regions. Treatment for epilepsy primarily involves anti-seizure medications (ASMs) that help stabilize the electrical signals in the brain. However, 30% of patients appear to be refractory to treatment. ASMs effectively control seizures but do not influence epileptogenesis, the silent seizure-free period from brain injury to the first unprovoked seizure. The exact mechanism of epileptogenesis remains controversial. Consequently, advancements in treatment could stem from a deeper understanding of epilepsy's underlying pathophysiology. Besides, there is a critical need for new pharmaceuticals that are both safe and effective in preventing epilepsy progression and improving patients' quality of life. This article reviews epilepsy and epileptogenesis pathophysiology, the recent classification of seizure types, current treatment strategies, and animal models used to better understand epilepsy. Additionally, it discusses the emerging research directions for antiepileptogenic drugs, highlighting recent advancements aimed at addressing the limitations of current ASMs and offering new insights into epilepsy treatments.

DOI

10.21608/dusj.2024.302952.1077

Keywords

Epilepsy, Seizures, epileptogenesis, anti-seizure medications

Authors

First Name

Heba

Last Name

Abdelaziz

MiddleName

Ali

Affiliation

Pharmacology and biochemistry department, faculty of pharmacy, Delta university for science and technology

Email

drhebaali26@gmail.com

City

Mansoura

Orcid

-

First Name

Ghada

Last Name

Suddek

MiddleName

M.

Affiliation

Pharmacology and Toxicology Dept., Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt

Email

ghmsuddek@mans.edu.eg

City

-

Orcid

-

First Name

Manar

Last Name

Nader

MiddleName

A.

Affiliation

Pharmacology and Toxicology Dept., Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt

Email

manarahna@yahoo.com

City

-

Orcid

-

First Name

Hamdy

Last Name

Ghoneim

MiddleName

A.

Affiliation

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, 35516, Egypt

Email

hamdoda@yahoo.com

City

Mansoura

Orcid

-

Volume

7

Article Issue

2

Related Issue

52436

Issue Date

2024-09-01

Receive Date

2024-07-09

Publish Date

2024-09-01

Page Start

70

Page End

79

Print ISSN

2636-3046

Online ISSN

2636-3054

Link

https://dusj.journals.ekb.eg/article_399758.html

Detail API

https://dusj.journals.ekb.eg/service?article_code=399758

Order

399,758

Type

Review articles

Type Code

1,770

Publication Type

Journal

Publication Title

Delta University Scientific Journal

Publication Link

https://dusj.journals.ekb.eg/

MainTitle

Advances and Challenges in Understanding and Treating Epilepsy: A Concise Review

Details

Type

Article

Created At

28 Dec 2024