Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2026
08:23
Adaptation of Microelectrode Array Technology for the Study of Anesthesia-induced Neurotoxicity in the Intact Piglet Brain
Published on: May 12, 2018
Understanding artemisinin-induced brainstem neurotoxicity.
Raymond F Genovese1, Donald B Newman
1Division of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910-7500, USA. Raymond.Genovese@US.Army.Mil
Archives of Toxicology
|November 1, 2007
Summary
Artemisinins, effective antimalarials, can cause brainstem neurotoxicity. Further research is needed to understand risks and ensure patient safety as their use increases.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Neuroscience
- Tropical Medicine
Background:
- Artemisinins are crucial antimalarials with increasing global use due to drug resistance.
- Laboratory studies indicate artemisinins can cause specific brainstem neurotoxicity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current knowledge on artemisinin-induced brainstem neurotoxicity.
- To identify gaps in understanding and inform pharmacovigilance strategies.
Main Methods:
- Review of laboratory studies on artemisinin neurotoxicity.
- Analysis of vulnerable brainstem nuclei and toxicity mechanisms.
Main Results:
- Brainstem nuclei in the medulla, pons, and mesencephalon are most vulnerable.
- Neurotoxicity onset is linked to sustained drug levels, with abrupt symptom development.
- Observed symptoms include ataxia, tremor, gait impairment, balance disturbance, and auditory issues.
Conclusions:
- Current understanding of artemisinin neurotoxicity is limited, with unknown mechanisms and contributing factors.
- Further research is essential to address knowledge gaps and ensure safe use of these vital antimalarials.
- Pharmacovigilance must be enhanced as artemisinin use expands globally.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Arboviral Encephalitis
Arboviral encephalitis refers to brain inflammation caused by arthropod-borne viruses, particularly those transmitted through mosquito vectors. Among these, West Nile virus (WNV), a member of the Flaviviridae family, is a significant public health concern. WNV is an enveloped, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus. Human infection typically begins when an infected mosquito introduces the virus into the dermis during feeding. The primary transmission cycle involves birds as amplifying hosts...
01:29Hepatic Encephalopathy
DefinitionHepatic encephalopathy is a reversible neurologic syndrome that results from advanced liver dysfunction or portosystemic shunting. It leads to disturbances in cognition, behavior, and motor function due to the brain’s exposure to gut-derived toxins that the liver fails to detoxify.EtiologyThis condition develops either in the setting of acute fulminant hepatitis or progressively during chronic liver disease, such as cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Portosystemic shunting—including...
01:26Anticholinesterase Agents: Poisoning and Treatment
Anticholinesterases, also known as cholinesterase inhibitors, work by blocking the breakdown of acetylcholine, leading to its accumulation in the synaptic cleft. This accumulation indirectly enhances both muscarinic and nicotinic actions. These agents are classified as reversible or irreversible based on their mechanism of action.
Irreversible agents form a strong bond with the cholinesterase enzyme, making it inactive. The breakdown of the phosphorylated enzyme is slower than the...
Irreversible agents form a strong bond with the cholinesterase enzyme, making it inactive. The breakdown of the phosphorylated enzyme is slower than the...
01:24Drug Toxicity: Dose-Dependent Reactions
Drug toxicities can be stratified into pharmacological, pathological, or genotoxic based on their mechanisms. The incidence and severity of these toxicities generally increase with the drug's concentration in the body and exposure time.Pharmacological toxicity is evident when the therapeutic effects of drugs overshoot into adverse reactions in a predictable, dose-dependent manner. Central nervous system (CNS) depression from barbiturates is a classic example, with effects escalating from...
01:00Drug Toxicity: Overview
Drug toxicity quantifies the harm a compound causes to an organism, varying by dose and potentially impacting whole systems or specific organs like the liver. Toxic reactions may arise from venomous insect or spider bites, with effects ranging from mild symptoms to severe outcomes such as brain damage or death. Common forms of acute poisoning include ethanol intoxication and overdose of pain or fever medications, with substances like GHB and heroin being particularly lethal at doses close to...
00:49The Blood-brain Barrier
Overview