Abstract
Drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) represents an important challenge because currently available pharmacological therapies fail to control this condition. This situation can be explained because the mechanisms underlying the drug-resistant condition in epilepsy are not addressed correctly.
The high prevalence of patients with DRE (30%) can be associated with the presence of refractory syndromes from the start. Also, drug resistance in epilepsy can be acquired as consequence of the seizure activity at high frequency and severity. Genetic factors may impact the pharmacokinetics and the inter-individual and/or interethnic responses to the antiseizure medications (ASMs). Pharmacodynamic aspects associated to ASMs targets can also explain the pharmacoresistant condition in epilepsy. The investigation of these conditions and their consequences (hypoxia, inflammation, oxidative stress, etc.) in the brain and peripheral organs is essential to design more effective therapeutic strategies to control DRE. Indeed, the use of omics technologies can contribute to the identification of novel targets to control DRE. Also, it is essential in the use of preclinical models that reproduce the different types of pharmacoresistant epilepsies in patients.
The importance of studying DRE lies on the understanding the heterogeneous mechanisms involved and consider new and more effective therapeutic strategies to control and prevent this condition.
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Rocha, L.L., Cavalheiro, E.A., Lazarowski, A. (2023). Why Study Drug-Resistant Epilepsy?. In: Rocha, L.L., Lazarowski, A., Cavalheiro, E.A. (eds) Pharmacoresistance in Epilepsy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-36526-3_1
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