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Related Concept Videos

Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview01:24

Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview

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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...
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Seizures: Classification01:13

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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:
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Antiepileptic Drugs: Potassium Channel Activators01:20

Antiepileptic Drugs: Potassium Channel Activators

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Ezocgabine or retigabine, an antiepileptic drug of remarkable efficacy, has revolutionized the management of seizures. It is a potassium channel activator, explicitly targeting the family of Q subtype potassium channels. It enhances the transmembrane potassium currents, regulating neuronal excitability. This action stabilizes the resting membrane potential, a pivotal factor in mitigating the hyperexcitability that characterizes epilepsy.
Ezogabine has gained approval as an adjunctive treatment...
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Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein01:20

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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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Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators01:18

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γ-aminobutyric acid or GABA, plays a pivotal role as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. GABA pathway potentiators, also known as GABAergic drugs, are a class of pharmaceutical agents designed to enhance the functioning of the GABAergic system. These medications primarily treat epilepsy, a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures.
The key GABA pathway potentiators used in epilepsy management are as follows.
Benzodiazepines are a well-known class of drugs used for...
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Antiepileptic Drugs: Sodium Channel Blockers01:08

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Antiepileptic drugs are specialized medications that prevent seizures in individuals diagnosed with epilepsy. These drugs primarily function by blocking the movement of sodium ions through channels in the neuronal membrane, inhibiting the repetitive firing of action potentials often associated with seizures.
Sodium channel blockers modulate ion channels, particularly voltage-gated sodium channels. They block only sodium ion movement.
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Electrophoretic Delivery of γ-aminobutyric Acid GABA into Epileptic Focus Prevents Seizures in Mice
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Predicting epileptic seizure control during pregnancy.

Frank J E Vajda1, T J O'Brien1, J E Graham1

  • 1Department of Medicine and Neurosciences, Royal Melbourne Hospital and University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3050, Australia.

Epilepsy & Behavior : E&B
|November 28, 2017
PubMed
Summary

Women with epilepsy (WWE) who had active epilepsy in the year before pregnancy or did not take antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) early in pregnancy were more likely to have seizures during pregnancy. Seizure control before pregnancy is key for a seizure-free pregnancy.

Keywords:
Antiepileptic drugsPregnancyPrognostic factorsSeizure freedomSeizures

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Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Obstetrics
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Epilepsy affects pregnant women, necessitating careful management of seizure disorders and antiepileptic drug (AED) use.
  • Predicting seizure control during pregnancy is crucial for maternal and fetal well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if pre-pregnancy seizure activity, epilepsy type, and early pregnancy antiepileptic drug (AED) use predict seizure freedom during pregnancy.
  • To assess the relationship between pre-pregnancy seizure control and seizure occurrence in pregnant women with epilepsy.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of data from the Australian Pregnancy Register (APR) (1998-2016).
  • Inclusion of 1939 pregnancies after exclusions for loss to follow-up and premature termination.
  • Statistical analysis using relative risk (R.R.) calculations to assess seizure occurrence and AED therapy.

Main Results:

  • 42.8% of pregnancies involved seizures, with 19.9% experiencing convulsive seizures.
  • Active epilepsy in the pre-pregnancy year was associated with a 78.4% seizure occurrence rate during pregnancy.
  • Pregnancies with no AEDs in early pregnancy had a 54.9% seizure occurrence rate, compared to 45.5% with continuous AED treatment.

Conclusions:

  • Women with epilepsy (WWE) with active seizures pre-pregnancy are 3-4 times more likely to have seizures during pregnancy.
  • Lack of antiepileptic drug (AED) use in early pregnancy significantly increases seizure risk during gestation.
  • Maintaining seizure control prior to and during pregnancy is vital for improving seizure-free outcomes in women with epilepsy.