Transient and chronic seizure-induced inflammation in human focal epilepsy.

Publication Type Case Report
Authors Butler T, Li Y, Tsui W, Friedman D, Maoz A, Wang X, Harvey P, Tanzi E, Morim S, Kang Y, Mosconi L, Talos D, Kuzniecky R, Vallhabjosula S, Thesen T, Glodzik L, Ichise M, Silbersweig D, Stern E, de Leon M, French J
Journal Epilepsia
Volume 57
Issue 9
Pagination e191-4
Date Published 07/06/2016
ISSN 1528-1167
Keywords Encephalitis, Epilepsies, Partial
Abstract In animal models, inflammation is both a cause and consequence of seizures. Less is known about the role of inflammation in human epilepsy. We performed positron emission tomography (PET) using a radiotracer sensitive to brain inflammation in a patient with frontal epilepsy ~36 h after a seizure as well as during a seizure-free period. When statistically compared to a group of 12 matched controls, both of the patient's scans identified a frontal (supplementary motor area) region of increased inflammation corresponding to his clinically defined seizure focus, but the postseizure scan showed significantly greater inflammation intensity and spatial extent. These results provide new information about transient and chronic neuroinflammation in human epilepsy and may be relevant to understanding the process of epileptogenesis and guiding therapy.
DOI 10.1111/epi.13457
PubMed ID 27381590
PubMed Central ID PMC5266563
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