Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 1, 2025
A Pilot Study on the Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation of Aβ and Tau Levels in Rhesus Monkey Cerebrospinal Fluid
Published on: September 3, 2021
Higher plasma total tau concentrations among patients reporting CNS-related side effects from antiseizure medication
Klara Andersson1, Sarah Akel2, Fredrik Asztély3
1Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Department of Neurology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, member of ERN Epicare, Gothenburg, Sweden; Wallenberg Center of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Gothenburg University, Sweden.
Background:
Side effects from antiseizure medication (ASM) are common in epilepsy but biomarkers for detection and monitoring are missing. This study investigated associations between CNS-related side effects from ASM and blood concentrations of the brain injury markers neurofilament-light (NFL), total tau, glial acidic fibrillary protein (GFAP), S100 calcium-binding protein B (S100B) and neuron-specific enolase (NSE).
Methods:
This is a population-based cohort study of adults with epilepsy recruited from five Swedish outpatient neurology clinics from December 2020 to April 2023. Side effects classified as CNS-related: tiredness, dizziness, headache, concentration, memory, mood, motor/tremor, or sleep. Marker concentrations in the groups CNS side effects/no side effects were analyzed with Mann-Whitney U-test and significant differences were included in multivariable logistic regression models adjusting for age, epilepsy duration, seizure status, acquired structural lesion, and mono-/polytherapy.
Results:
The cohort consisted of 367 patients, 187 (51 %) were females, the median age was 43 years (IQR 30-61), and 123 (34 %) reported CNS side effects. Total tau was higher among participants reporting CNS side effects (median 4.44 (95 %CI 4.12-4.88) pg/ml) compared with participants without side effects (3.84 (95 %CI 3.52-4.07) pg/ml, p < 0.01). The difference remained significant in multivariable regression models. NSE was higher among participants without side effects but did not remain significant in the multivariable regression model. No differences were observed for NFL, GFAP or S100B.
Conclusions:
Higher total tau plasma concentration could be associated with increased risk of CNS side effects from ASM. Longitudinal studies could determine if this reflects vulnerability or detrimental effects of ASM.
Trial Registration:
PREDICT, clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT04559919.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:17Antiepileptic Drugs: Calcium Channel Blockers
Calcium channel blockers exert their antiepileptic effects by targeting T-type calcium channels, which are integral to transmitting nerve signals in the central nervous system. These channels allow the passage of calcium ions, which are vital for neuronal communication. By inhibiting T-type calcium channels, calcium channel blockers effectively reduce the release of neurotransmitters and...
01:20Antiepileptic Drugs: Potassium Channel Activators
Ezogabine has gained approval as an adjunctive treatment...
01:14Antiepileptic Drugs: Glutamate Antagonists
01:20Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein
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...
01:18Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators
The key GABA pathway potentiators used in epilepsy management are as follows.
Benzodiazepines are a well-known class of drugs used for...
01:08Antiepileptic Drugs: Sodium Channel Blockers
Sodium channel blockers modulate ion channels, particularly voltage-gated sodium channels. They block only sodium ion movement.
Among the most commonly prescribed antiepileptic drugs are...