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Related Concept Videos

Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview01:24

Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease marked by recurrent, unpredictable seizures. These seizures are caused by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain, leading to behavior, sensation, or consciousness alterations. They can also cause transient impairment of awareness, interfering with daily activities.
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...
Epilepsy ll: Types01:22

Epilepsy ll: Types

Recurrent seizures, stemming from abnormal electrical activity in the brain, are the defining characteristic of epilepsy, a chronic neurological condition. Because seizure features vary greatly, epilepsy is classified using two systems: by seizure type and by epilepsy syndromes. These classifications enable clinicians to describe seizure patterns and select suitable treatment strategies.I. Classification by Seizure Type1. Focal EpilepsyFocal epilepsy begins in one hemisphere of the brain.
Antiepileptic Drugs: Glutamate Antagonists01:14

Antiepileptic Drugs: Glutamate Antagonists

Glutamate is a fundamental neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, playing a vital role in neuronal communication and various cognitive processes. Glutamate stands as the principal excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. Its presence is crucial for the communication between neurons, underpinning essential processes such as synaptic transmission, neuronal excitability, and plasticity. These functions are vital for higher-order cognitive processes, including learning and memory. The...
Encephalitis l: Introduction01:19

Encephalitis l: Introduction

Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain parenchyma, most often due to infections or autoimmune processes. It presents with neuropsychiatric features such as fever, altered mental status, behavioral changes, cognitive dysfunction, seizures, focal deficits, and sometimes autonomic instability. In some cases, the meninges are also involved, resulting in meningoencephalitis.Infectious CausesInfectious encephalitis is most commonly viral but can also result from bacterial, fungal, or parasitic...
Seizures: Classification01:13

Seizures: Classification

Epilepsy is primarily characterized by unpredictable seizures, either provoked by an identifiable factor, such as injury or illness, or unprovoked, occurring spontaneously without apparent cause.
Seizures are typically classified into two main categories: focal and generalized seizures.
Focal Seizures
Focal seizures originate from specific regions of the brain. These seizures are further sub-classified into two types:
Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein01:20

Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein

Antiepileptic drugs, such as levetiracetam (Keppra) and brivaracetam (Briviact), have emerged as crucial tools in managing epilepsy. These medications exert their therapeutic effects by targeting the synaptic vesicle protein SV2A, a transmembrane glycoprotein primarily found in the brain.
SV2A is a transmembrane glycoprotein located predominantly in the brain, modulating the release of neurotransmitters for neuronal communication. Both levetiracetam and brivaracetam exhibit a high affinity for...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 19, 2026

Electrophoretic Delivery of γ-aminobutyric Acid (GABA) into Epileptic Focus Prevents Seizures in Mice
07:01

Electrophoretic Delivery of γ-aminobutyric Acid (GABA) into Epileptic Focus Prevents Seizures in Mice

Published on: May 16, 2019

Autoimmune and inflammatory epilepsies.

Rima Nabbout1

  • 1Department of Pediatric Neurology, Reference Center for Rare Epilepsies, Inserm U663, Necker Enfants Malades Hospital, Paris, France. rimanabbout@yahoo.com

Epilepsia
|September 6, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Immunity and inflammation play a key role in certain epilepsies, particularly those with unknown causes. Autoantibodies and immune-mediated inflammation are implicated in conditions like limbic encephalitis and Rasmussen's encephalitis.

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Scoring Central Nervous System Inflammation, Demyelination, and Axon Injury in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis
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Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Immunology
  • Epileptology

Background:

  • Steroid anticonvulsant activity suggests immune links in childhood epilepsies.
  • Fever, infections, autoimmune diseases, and autoantibodies indicate inflammation's role in epilepsy etiology.
  • Immunity and inflammation are increasingly recognized in epilepsies of unknown origin.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review epilepsies with strong evidence of autoantibody involvement.
  • To discuss immune-mediated epilepsies where pathogenic cascades are unclear or hypothesized.
  • To highlight diagnostic electroclinical features and guide early immunomodulatory therapy.

Main Methods:

  • Review of clinical and biological data from various epilepsy types.
  • Emphasis on electroclinical features for diagnosis.
  • Discussion of diagnostic challenges and future therapeutic questions.

Main Results:

  • Strong evidence supports autoantibodies in limbic encephalitis and N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) encephalitis.
  • Immune-mediated inflammation is implicated in Rasmussen's encephalitis, IHHS, and FIRES.
  • Diagnostic features are presented to facilitate early treatment.

Conclusions:

  • Immune mechanisms are critical in specific epilepsy types, necessitating early diagnosis and treatment.
  • Further research is needed to clarify diagnostic criteria, underlying mechanisms, and novel therapies.
  • Understanding the immune basis of epilepsy can lead to improved patient outcomes.