[Modern aspects of epilepsy research and its application]

At present most authors agree with the hypothesis that epilepsy is primarily caused by an imbalance of inhibitory and excitatory transmitter systems of CNS in favour of the latter. Epilepsy research focuses more and more on disorders in structures using amino acids as transmitters. There is a world-wide searching for new antiepileptic strategies with an emphasis on a causally guided therapy. Besides possibilities of pharmacological enhancement of GABA-mediated inhibition, e.g. by recently tested GABA prodrugs, highly potent antagonists of transmitter glutamate, acting as anticonvulsant drugs, are expected to gain in significance for clinical practice.