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Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview

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: Types

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.

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Author Spotlight: Obtaining High-Quality CSF and Blood Samples for Epilepsy Biomarker Discovery

Author Spotlight: Obtaining High-Quality CSF and Blood Samples for Epilepsy Biomarker Discovery

Published on: September 1, 2023

The search for circulating epilepsy biomarkers.

Manu Hegde¹, Daniel H Lowenstein

¹UCSF Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, 521 Parnassus Avenue C-440, San Francisco, CA 94143-0138, USA.

Biomarkers in Medicine

|April 10, 2014

Summary

Developing biomarkers for epilepsy is crucial due to the disease's unpredictability and significant morbidity. Research into neuroimmunology, viral infections, pediatric syndromes, and genetics may yield accessible biomarkers for predicting epilepsy progression and treatment response.

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Area of Science:

Neurology
Biomarker Discovery
Immunology

Background:

Epilepsy presents unpredictable seizure timing and disease course, leading to considerable morbidity.
Current understanding of epileptogenesis and pharmacoresistance mechanisms remains limited.
There is a critical need for biomarkers to predict epilepsy progression and treatment outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

To review recent advances in identifying circulating epilepsy biomarkers.
To explore potential biomarker sources in neuroimmunology, viral infections, pediatric syndromes, and genetics.
To highlight areas of study with high potential for yielding accessible epilepsy biomarkers.

Main Methods:

Literature review focusing on neuroimmunology and inflammation.
Review of research on neurological viral infections and epilepsy.
Examination of exemplary pediatric epilepsy syndromes.
Analysis of genetic factors in pharmacoresistance relevant to epilepsy.

Main Results:

Advances in neuroimmunology and inflammation show promise for biomarker development.
Neurological viral infections are an emerging area for epilepsy biomarker research.
Specific pediatric syndromes offer insights into epilepsy mechanisms and potential biomarkers.
Genetic studies are identifying factors related to pharmacoresistance in epilepsy.

Conclusions:

Circulating biomarkers accessible in blood, cerebrospinal fluid, or urine are a realistic goal.
Investigating neuroimmunology, viral infections, pediatric syndromes, and genetics can yield significant biomarkers.
These research areas hold substantial potential for improving epilepsy management and understanding.