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Thompson KW, Suchomelova L, Wasterlain CG. Treatment of early life status epilepticus: What can we learn from animal models? Epilepsia Open 2018; 3:169-179. [PMID: 30564776 PMCID: PMC6293069 DOI: 10.1002/epi4.12271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Treatment of status epilepticus (SE) in infants and children is challenging. There is a recognition that a broad set of developmental processes need to be considered to fully appreciate the physiologic complexity of severe seizures, and seizure outcomes, in infants and children. The development and use of basic models to elucidate important mechanisms will help further our understanding of these processes. Here we review some of the key experimental models and consider several areas relevant to treatment that could lead to productive translational research. Terminating seizures quickly is essential. Understanding pharmacoresistance of SE as it relates to receptor trafficking will be critical to seizure termination. Once a severe seizure is terminated, how will the developing brain respond? Basic studies suggest that there are important acute and long‐term histopathologic, and pathophysiologic, consequences that, if left unaddressed, will produce long‐lasting deficits on the form and function of the central nervous system. To fully utilize the evidence that basic models produce, age‐ and development‐ and model‐specific frameworks have to be considered carefully. Studies have demonstrated that severe seizures can cause perturbations to developmental processes during critical periods of development that lead to life‐long deficits. Unfortunately, some of the drugs that are commonly used to treat seizures may also produce negative outcomes by enhancing Cl‐‐mediated depolarization, or by accelerating programmed cell death. More research is needed to understand these phenomena and their relevance to the human condition, and to develop rational drugs that protect the developing brain from severe seizures to the fullest extent possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerry W Thompson
- Department of Biology Occidental College Los Angeles California U.S.A
| | - Lucie Suchomelova
- Department of Neurology David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Los Angeles California U.S.A
| | - Claude G Wasterlain
- VA Greater Los Angeles Health Care System Los Angeles California U.S.A.,Department of Neurology David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Los Angeles California U.S.A.,Brain Research Institute UCLA Los Angeles California U.S.A
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52
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Akil O, Blits B, Lustig LR, Leake PA. Virally Mediated Overexpression of Glial-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Elicits Age- and Dose-Dependent Neuronal Toxicity and Hearing Loss. Hum Gene Ther 2018; 30:88-105. [PMID: 30183384 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2018.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Contemporary cochlear implants (CI) are generally very effective for remediation of severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss, but outcomes are still highly variable. Auditory nerve survival is likely one of the major factors underlying this variability. Neurotrophin therapy therefore has been proposed for CI recipients, with the goal of improving outcomes by promoting improved survival of cochlear spiral ganglion neurons (SGN) and/or residual hair cells. Previous studies have shown that glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and neurotrophin-3 can rescue SGNs following insult. The current study was designed to determine whether adeno-associated virus vector serotype 5 (AAV-5) encoding either green fluorescent protein or GDNF can transduce cells in the mouse cochlea to express useful levels of neurotrophin and to approximate the optimum therapeutic dose(s) for transducing hair cells and SGN. The findings demonstrate that AAV-5 is a potentially useful gene therapy vector for the cochlea, resulting in extremely high levels of transgene expression in the cochlear inner hair cells and SGN. However, overexpression of human GDNF in newborn mice caused severe neurological symptoms and hearing loss, likely due to Purkinje cell loss and cochlear nucleus pathology. Thus, extremely high levels of transgene protein expression should be avoided, particularly for proteins that have neurological function in neonatal subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar Akil
- 1 Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Bas Blits
- 2 Department of Research and Development, UniQure Biopharma B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lawrence R Lustig
- 3 Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Patricia A Leake
- 1 Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
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Neuroprotective Action of the CB1/2 Receptor Agonist, WIN 55,212-2, against DMSO but Not Phenobarbital-Induced Neurotoxicity in Immature Rats. Neurotox Res 2018; 35:173-182. [PMID: 30141144 DOI: 10.1007/s12640-018-9944-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Revised: 07/30/2018] [Accepted: 08/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The developing brain is uniquely susceptible to drug-induced increases in programmed cell death or apoptosis. Many compounds, including anticonvulsant drugs, anesthetic agents, and ethanol, when administered in a narrow postnatal window in rodents, result in increased pruning of neurons. Here, we report that dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) triggers widespread neurodegeneration in the immature (postnatal day, P7) rat brain, an effect consistent with a prior report in neonatal mice. We found that the synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist WIN 55,212-2 (WIN) exerts a neuroprotective effect against DMSO-induced cell death. We extended these findings to determine if WIN is neuroprotective against another drug class known to increase developmental cell death, namely antiseizure drugs. The antiseizure drug phenobarbital (PB) remains the primary treatment for neonatal seizures, despite significantly increasing cell death in the developing rodent brain. WIN exerts antiseizure effects in immature rodent seizure models, but increases the toxicity associated with neonatal ethanol exposure. We thus sought to determine if WIN would protect against or exacerbate PB-induced cell death. Unlike either the prior report with ethanol or our present findings with DMSO, WIN was largely without effect on PB-induced cell death. WIN alone did not increase cell death over levels observed in vehicle-treated rats. These data suggest that WIN has a favorable safety profile in the developing brain and could potentially serve as an adjunct therapy with phenobarbital (albeit one that does not attenuate PB-induced toxicity).
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54
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Lewis T, Kuye S, Sherman A. Ursodeoxycholic acid versus phenobarbital for cholestasis in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. BMC Pediatr 2018; 18:197. [PMID: 29925342 PMCID: PMC6011596 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-018-1167-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2017] [Accepted: 06/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Although neonates and young infants with cholestasis are commonly treated with either phenobarbital or ursodeoxycholic acid (ursodiol), there is no evidence that phenobarbital is effective for this indication. Our objective was to compare the effectiveness of ursodiol and phenobarbital for the treatment of cholestasis in a diverse NICU population. Methods This is a retrospective cohort study including infants with cholestasis who were admitted to a Level IV NICU between January 2010 and December 2015. Drug courses of phenobarbital and ursodiol were identified within the medical record, and medical, demographic, and drug information were extracted. The primary outcome was reduction in direct bilirubin. Results Sixty-eight infants provided a total of 112 courses of drug therapy for comparison. Diverse medical diagnoses were captured in the patient cohort. Ursodiol was significantly more effective in reducing direct bilirubin than was phenobarbital (− 1.89 vs + 0.76 mg/dL; − 33.33 vs + 13.0 umol/L, p-value 0.03), even after controlling for baseline cholestasis severity, intrauterine growth restriction status, and lipid lowering therapy (− 2.16 vs + 0.27 mg/dl; − 36.94 vs + 4.62 umol/L, p-value 0.03). There was no improvement in direct bilirubin in the majority of infants treated with phenobarbital. Conclusions Phenobarbital, as compared to ursodiol, has limited efficacy for the reduction of direct bilirubin in neonates and young infants with cholestasis. Given new data regarding the potential neurotoxicity of phenobarbital in the developing brain, providers may choose to avoid phenobarbital in the treatment of cholestasis in infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamorah Lewis
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Mercy Hospital, University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine, 2401 Gillham Rd, Kansas City, MO, 64108, USA.
| | - Simisola Kuye
- School of Medicine, University of Missouri Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - Ashley Sherman
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Mercy Hospital, University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine, 2401 Gillham Rd, Kansas City, MO, 64108, USA
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Law N, Smith ML, Widjaja E. Thalamocortical Connections and Executive Function in Pediatric Temporal and Frontal Lobe Epilepsy. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2018; 39:1523-1529. [PMID: 29880477 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.a5691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2017] [Accepted: 04/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Largely accepted in the literature is the role the interconnections between the thalamus and cortex play in generalized epilepsy. However, thalamocortical involvement is less understood in focal epilepsy in terms of the effect of seizures on thalamocortical circuitry in the developing brain and subsequent cognitive outcome. We investigated thalamocortical pathway microstructure in pediatric frontal lobe epilepsy and temporal lobe epilepsy and examined the associations between pathway microstructure and measures of executive function. MATERIALS AND METHODS We examined thalamocortical connections in 24 children with frontal lobe epilepsy, 17 patients with temporal lobe epilepsy, and 25 healthy children using DTI. We investigated several executive function measures in patients and controls, which were distilled into latent executive function components to compare among groups, and the associations between measures of thalamocortical microstructure and executive function. RESULTS We found no differences in thalamocortical pathway microstructure between the groups, but aspects of executive function (mental flexibility/inhibition/shifting) were impaired in the frontal lobe epilepsy group compared with controls. In patients with frontal lobe epilepsy, younger age at seizure onset and a greater number of antiepileptic drugs were associated with DTI indices indicative of damaged/less developed thalamocortical pathways. In patients with temporal lobe epilepsy, poorer performance on all measures of executive function was associated with DTI indices reflective of damaged/less developed pathways. CONCLUSIONS Our results give insight into vulnerable neural networks in pediatric focal epilepsy and suggest thalamocortical pathway damage as a potential mechanism of executive function impairment in temporal lobe epilepsy but not frontal lobe epilepsy. Identifying structure-function relations can help inform how we measure functional and cognitive/behavioral outcomes in these populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Law
- From the Department of Psychology (N.L., M.L.S.), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychology (N.L., M.L.S.).,Program in Neurosciences and Mental Health (N.L., M.L.S.)
| | - M L Smith
- From the Department of Psychology (N.L., M.L.S.), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychology (N.L., M.L.S.).,Program in Neurosciences and Mental Health (N.L., M.L.S.)
| | - E Widjaja
- Diagnostic Imaging (E.W.) .,Division of Neurology (E.W.), Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Kasahara Y, Ikegaya Y, Koyama R. Neonatal Seizure Models to Study Epileptogenesis. Front Pharmacol 2018; 9:385. [PMID: 29720941 PMCID: PMC5915831 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2018.00385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2018] [Accepted: 04/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Current therapeutic strategies for epilepsy include anti-epileptic drugs and surgical treatments that are mainly focused on the suppression of existing seizures rather than the occurrence of the first spontaneous seizure. These symptomatic treatments help a certain proportion of patients, but these strategies are not intended to clarify the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the primary process of epilepsy development, i.e., epileptogenesis. Epileptogenic changes include reorganization of neural and glial circuits, resulting in the formation of an epileptogenic focus. To achieve the goal of developing “anti-epileptogenic” drugs, we need to clarify the step-by-step mechanisms underlying epileptogenesis for patients whose seizures are not controllable with existing “anti-epileptic” drugs. Epileptogenesis has been studied using animal models of neonatal seizures because such models are useful for studying the latent period before the occurrence of spontaneous seizures and the lowering of the seizure threshold. Further, neonatal seizure models are generally easy to handle and can be applied for in vitro studies because cells in the neonatal brain are suitable for culture. Here, we review two animal models of neonatal seizures for studying epileptogenesis and discuss their features, specifically focusing on hypoxia-ischemia (HI)-induced seizures and febrile seizures (FSs). Studying these models will contribute to identifying the potential therapeutic targets and biomarkers of epileptogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuka Kasahara
- Laboratory of Chemical Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuji Ikegaya
- Laboratory of Chemical Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ryuta Koyama
- Laboratory of Chemical Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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Krishna S, Hutton A, Aronowitz E, Moore H, Vannucci SJ. The effects of adding prophylactic phenobarbital to therapeutic hypothermia in the term-equivalent hypoxic-ischemic rat. Pediatr Res 2018; 83:506-513. [PMID: 29053702 DOI: 10.1038/pr.2017.266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2017] [Accepted: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
BackgroundHypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a major cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) is the only available intervention, but neuroprotection is incomplete and variable. Seizures are common in infants with HIE undergoing TH and may worsen outcome. Phenobarbital (PB) is sometimes added, although use of prophylactic PB is controversial in the neonate. We hypothesize that prophylactic PB will not reduce, and may enhance, the neuroprotective effects of TH on brain injury and motor outcomes in the postnatal day 10 (P10) hypoxic-ischemic (HI) rat.MethodsP10 rat pups were subjected to unilateral HI and 4 h recovery with: normothermia (N); hypothermia (TH); and hypothermia with phenobarbital (TH+PB). Brain damage was assessed longitudinally at 24 h and 2 weeks using brain magnetic resonance imaging and 12 weeks using histochemical analysis. Motor function was assessed with the beam walk and cylinder tests.ResultsTH and TH+PB induced neuroprotection, as measured by global brain damage score and improved motor function. Exploratory analyses suggest that TH+PB may confer enhanced protection, especially to the extent of damage.ConclusionProphylactic PB with TH is not deleterious and may provide additional long-term neuroprotection, including improvement of motor outcomes following HI in the term-equivalent, neonatal rat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sushma Krishna
- Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
| | - Alexandra Hutton
- Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
| | - Eric Aronowitz
- Citigroup Biomedical Imaging Center, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
| | - Holly Moore
- Division of Integrative Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York
| | - Susan J Vannucci
- Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
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58
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Al-Muhtasib N, Sepulveda-Rodriguez A, Vicini S, Forcelli PA. Neonatal phenobarbital exposure disrupts GABAergic synaptic maturation in rat CA1 neurons. Epilepsia 2018; 59:333-344. [PMID: 29315524 DOI: 10.1111/epi.13990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Phenobarbital is the most commonly utilized drug for the treatment of neonatal seizures. The use of phenobarbital continues despite growing evidence that it exerts suboptimal seizure control and is associated with long-term alterations in brain structure, function, and behavior. Alterations following neonatal phenobarbital exposure include acute induction of neuronal apoptosis, disruption of synaptic development in the striatum, and a host of behavioral deficits. These behavioral deficits include those in learning and memory mediated by the hippocampus. However, the synaptic changes caused by acute exposure to phenobarbital that lead to lasting effects on brain function and behavior remain understudied. METHODS Postnatal day (P)7 rat pups were treated with phenobarbital (75 mg/kg) or saline. On P13-14 or P29-37, acute slices were prepared and whole-cell patch-clamp recordings were made from CA1 pyramidal neurons. RESULTS At P14 we found an increase in miniature inhibitory postsynaptic current (mIPSC) frequency in the phenobarbital-exposed as compared to the saline-exposed group. In addition to this change in mIPSC frequency, the phenobarbital group displayed larger bicuculline-sensitive tonic currents, decreased capacitance and membrane time constant, and a surprising persistence of giant depolarizing potentials. At P29+, the frequency of mIPSCs in the saline-exposed group had increased significantly from the frequency at P14, typical of normal synaptic development; at this age the phenobarbital-exposed group displayed a lower mIPSC frequency than did the control group. Spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic current (sIPSC) frequency was unaffected at either P14 or P29+. SIGNIFICANCE These neurophysiological alterations following phenobarbital exposure provide a potential mechanism by which acute phenobarbital exposure can have a long-lasting impact on brain development and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nour Al-Muhtasib
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Alberto Sepulveda-Rodriguez
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA.,Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Stefano Vicini
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA.,Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Patrick A Forcelli
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA.,Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
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59
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Pisani F, Pavlidis E. The role of electroencephalogram in neonatal seizure detection. Expert Rev Neurother 2017; 18:95-100. [DOI: 10.1080/14737175.2018.1413352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Pisani
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Medicine & Surgery Department, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Elena Pavlidis
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Medicine & Surgery Department, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
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Yozawitz E, Stacey A, Pressler RM. Pharmacotherapy for Seizures in Neonates with Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy. Paediatr Drugs 2017; 19:553-567. [PMID: 28770451 DOI: 10.1007/s40272-017-0250-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Seizures are common in neonates with moderate and severe hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and are associated with worse outcomes, independent of HIE severity. In contrast to adults and older children, no new drugs have been licensed for treatment of neonatal seizures over the last 50 years, because of a lack of controlled clinical trials. Hence, many antiseizure medications licensed in older children and adults are used off-label for neonatal seizure, which is associated with potential risks of adverse effects during a period when the brain is particularly vulnerable. Phenobarbital is worldwide the first-line drug and is considered standard of care, although there is a limited evidence base for its efficacy. Second-line agents include phenytoin, benzodiazepines, levetiracetam, and lidocaine. These drugs are discussed in more detail along with two emerging drugs (bumetanide and topiramate). More safety, pharmacokinetic, and efficacy data are needed from well-designed clinical trials to develop safe and effective antiseizure regimes for the treatment of neonatal seizures in HIE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elissa Yozawitz
- Department of Neurology and Pediatrics, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Arthur Stacey
- UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Ronit M Pressler
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, Great Ormond Street, London, WC1N 3JH, UK. .,Clinical Neurosciences, UCL- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, UK.
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Abstract
Neonatal seizures constitute the most frequent presenting neurologic sign encountered in the neonatal intensive care unit. Despite limited efficacy and safety data, phenobarbital continues to be used near-universally as the first-line anti-seizure drug (ASD) in neonates. The choice of second-line ASDs varies by provider and institution, and is still not supported by sufficient scientific evidence. In this review, we discuss the available evidence supporting the efficacy, mechanism of action, potential adverse effects, key pharmacokinetic characteristics such as interaction with therapeutic hypothermia, logistical issues, and rationale for use of neonatal ASDs. We describe the widely used neonatal ASDs, namely phenobarbital, phenytoin, midazolam, and levetiracetam, in addition to potential ASDs, including lidocaine, topiramate, and bumetanide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed El-Dib
- Neonatal Neurocritical Care, Department of Pediatric Newborn Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Janet S Soul
- Fetal-Neonatal Neurology Program, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Shellhaas RA, Berg AT, Grinspan ZM, Wusthoff CJ, Millichap JJ, Loddenkemper T, Coryell J, Saneto RP, Chu CJ, Joshi SM, Sullivan JE, Knupp KG, Kossoff EH, Keator C, Wirrell EC, Mytinger JR, Valencia I, Massey S, Gaillard WD. Initial Treatment for Nonsyndromic Early-Life Epilepsy: An Unexpected Consensus. Pediatr Neurol 2017; 75:73-79. [PMID: 28807611 PMCID: PMC5863237 DOI: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2017.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2017] [Revised: 06/22/2017] [Accepted: 06/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE There are no evidence-based guidelines on the preferred approach to treating early-life epilepsy. We examined initial therapy selection in a contemporary US cohort of children with newly diagnosed, nonsyndromic, early-life epilepsy (onset before age three years). METHODS Seventeen pediatric epilepsy centers participated in a prospective cohort study of children with newly diagnosed epilepsy with onset under 36 months of age. Details regarding demographics, seizure types, and initial medication selections were obtained from medical records. RESULTS About half of the 495 enrolled children with new-onset, nonsyndromic epilepsy were less than 12 months old at the time of diagnosis (n = 263, 53%) and about half (n = 260, 52%) had epilepsy with focal features. Of 464 who were treated with monotherapy, 95% received one of five drugs: levetiracetam (n = 291, 63%), oxcarbazepine (n = 67, 14%), phenobarbital (n = 57, 12%), topiramate (n = 16, 3.4%), and zonisamide (n = 13, 2.8%). Phenobarbital was prescribed first for 50 of 163 (31%) infants less than six months old versus seven of 300 (2.3%) of children six months or older (P < 0.0001). Although the first treatment varied across study centers (P < 0.0001), levetiracetam was the most commonly prescribed medication regardless of epilepsy presentation (focal, generalized, mixed/uncertain). Between the first and second treatment choices, 367 (74%) of children received levetiracetam within the first year after diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS Without any specific effort, the pediatric epilepsy community has developed an unexpectedly consistent approach to initial treatment selection for early-life epilepsy. This suggests that a standard practice is emerging and could be utilized as a widely acceptable basis of comparison in future drug studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renée A. Shellhaas
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan,Communications should be addressed to: Dr. Shellhaas; C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, room 12-733, 1540 E. Hospital Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-4279.
| | - Anne T. Berg
- Epilepsy Center, Lurie Children’s Hospital; Department of Pediatrics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Zachary M. Grinspan
- Weill Cornell Medicine; New York Presbyterian Hospital; Health Information Technology Evaluation Collaborative, New York, New York
| | | | - John J. Millichap
- Epilepsy Center, Lurie Children’s Hospital; Department of Pediatrics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Tobias Loddenkemper
- Division of Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology, Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jason Coryell
- Departments of Pediatrics & Neurology, Oregon Health & Sciences University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Russell P. Saneto
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Seattle Children’s Hospital, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Catherine J. Chu
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Sucheta M. Joshi
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Joseph E. Sullivan
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Kelly G. Knupp
- Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Eric H. Kossoff
- Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Cynthia Keator
- Cook Children’s Health Care System, Jane and John Justin Neurosciences Center, Fort Worth, Texas
| | | | - John R. Mytinger
- Department of Pediatrics, the Ohio State University; Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Ignacio Valencia
- Section of Neurology, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Shavonne Massey
- Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and The Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - William D. Gaillard
- Department of Neurology, Children’s National Health System, George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, District of Columbia
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Wang Y, Han S, Han R, Su Y, Li J. Propofol-induced downregulation of NR2B membrane translocation in hippocampus and spatial memory deficits of neonatal mice. Brain Behav 2017; 7:e00734. [PMID: 28729940 PMCID: PMC5516608 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2017] [Revised: 04/10/2017] [Accepted: 04/21/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Thousands of infants and children are undergoing anesthesia around the world every day. But impacts of anesthetics on the developing neural system remain unclear yet. Previous evidence showed that anesthesia might affect the developing neural system. Thus, early-life anesthesia becomes a critical issue in clinical pediatric practice. Hence, propofol, a short-acting and widely applied intravenous anesthetic, has been gaining focus upon neonatal anesthesia. METHODS Fifty-four male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into following three groups: group D6 intraperitoneally (i.p.) injected propofol (100 mg/kg body weight) once a day from postnatal day 6 (P6) to P11, group D1 administrated propofol (100 mg/kg, i.p.) at P6 solely and administrated normal saline (10 ml/kg, i.p.) from P7 to P11, and group N treated with normal saline (10 ml/kg, i.p.) from P6 to P11 as the control (n = 18 per group). Then, at P28, nine mice were collected randomly from each group for NR2B membrane translocation and phosphorylation analysis, and the rest half in each group were assigned to perform Morris water maze tests from P28 to P35. RESULTS Results showed that total protein expression levels of NR2B increased (p < .001) while its membrane translocation decreased (p < .001, n = 9 per group) in the hippocampus but not in the prefrontal cortex of neonatal mice after repeated propofol administration. Phosphorylation levels of NR2B at serine 1303 (D1: p < .05; D6: p < .001, n = 9 per group) and serine 1480 (D1: p < .01, D6: p < .001, n = 9 per group) increased significantly as well in the hippocampus compared with group N. In addition, memory deficits (p < .05, n = 9 per group) were observed in Morris water maze tests of group D6 mice. CONCLUSIONS These results suggested that propofol exposure downregulates NR2B membrane translocation and causes spatial memory deficits, with a mediated increased NR2B protein expression and phosphorylation at Ser1303/1480 residues in the hippocampus of neonatal mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuzhu Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology Beijing Shijitan Hospital Capital Medical University Beijing China
| | - Song Han
- Department of Neurobiology and Center of Stroke Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders Capital Medical University Beijing China
| | - Ruquan Han
- Department of Anesthesiology Beijing Tiantan Hospital Capital Medical University Beijing China
| | - Yue Su
- Department of Anesthesiology Beijing Shijitan Hospital Capital Medical University Beijing China
| | - Junfa Li
- Department of Neurobiology and Center of Stroke Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders Capital Medical University Beijing China
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Sampath D, Valdez R, White AM, Raol YH. Anticonvulsant effect of flupirtine in an animal model of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Neuropharmacology 2017; 123:126-135. [PMID: 28587899 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2017] [Revised: 05/07/2017] [Accepted: 06/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Research studies suggest that neonatal seizures, which are most commonly associated with hypoxic-ischemic injury, may contribute to brain injury and adverse neurologic outcome. Unfortunately, neonatal seizures are often resistant to treatment with current anticonvulsants. In the present study, we evaluated the efficacy of flupirtine, administered at clinically relevant time-points, for the treatment of neonatal seizures in an animal model of hypoxic-ischemic injury that closely replicates features of the human syndrome. We also compared the efficacy of flupirtine to that of phenobarbital, the current first-line drug for neonatal seizures. Flupirtine is a KCNQ potassium channel opener. KCNQ channels play an important role in controlling brain excitability during early development. In this study, hypoxic-ischemic injury was induced in neonatal rats, and synchronized video-EEG records were acquired at various time-points during the experiment to identify seizures. The results revealed that flupirtine, administered either 5 min after the first electroclinical seizure, or following completion of 2 h of hypoxia, i.e., during the immediate reperfusion period, reduced the number of rats with electroclinical seizures, and also the frequency and total duration of electroclinical seizures. Further, daily dosing of flupirtine decreased the seizure burden over 3 days following HI-induction, and modified the natural evolution of acute seizures. Moreover, compared to a therapeutic dose of phenobarbital, which was modestly effective against electroclinical seizures, flupirtine showed greater efficacy. Our results indicate that flupirtine is an extremely effective treatment for neonatal seizures in rats and provide evidence for a trial of this medication in newborn humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dayalan Sampath
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology, School of Medicine, Translational Epilepsy Research Program, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Robert Valdez
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology, School of Medicine, Translational Epilepsy Research Program, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Andrew M White
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology, School of Medicine, Translational Epilepsy Research Program, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Yogendra H Raol
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology, School of Medicine, Translational Epilepsy Research Program, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
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"Endovascular embolic hemispherectomy": a strategy for the initial management of catastrophic holohemispheric epilepsy in the neonate. Childs Nerv Syst 2017; 33:521-527. [PMID: 27796549 DOI: 10.1007/s00381-016-3289-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2016] [Accepted: 10/20/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Conflicting challenges abound in the management of the newborn with intractable epilepsy related to hemimegalencephaly. Early hemispherectomy to stop seizures and prevent deleterious consequences to future neurocognitive development must be weighed against the technical and anesthetic challenges of performing major hemispheric surgery in the neonate. METHODS We hereby present our experience with two neonates with hemimegalencephaly and intractable seizures who were managed using a strategy of initial minimally invasive embolization of the cerebral blood supply to the involved hemisphere. RESULTS Immediate significant seizure control was achieved after embolization of the cerebral blood supply to the involved hemisphere followed by delayed ipsilateral hemispheric resection at a later optimal age. CONCLUSION The considerations and challenges encountered in the course of the management of these patients are discussed, and a literature review is presented.
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Shellhaas RA, Chang T, Wusthoff CJ, Soul JS, Massey SL, Chu CJ, Cilio MR, Bonifacio SL, Abend NS, Tsuchida TN, Glass HC. Treatment Duration After Acute Symptomatic Seizures in Neonates: A Multicenter Cohort Study. J Pediatr 2017; 181:298-301.e1. [PMID: 27829512 PMCID: PMC5322461 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2016.10.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2016] [Revised: 08/15/2016] [Accepted: 10/11/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
We aimed to define determinants of duration of treatment for acute symptomatic neonatal seizures in a contemporary multicenter observational cohort study. After adjustment for potential confounders, only study site and seizure etiology remained significantly associated with the chance of continuing antiseizure medication after discharge to home.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renée A. Shellhaas
- Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Taeun Chang
- Department of Neurology, Children’s National Health System, George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC
| | | | - Janet S. Soul
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Shavonne L. Massey
- Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, The Perelman School of Medicine, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Catherine J. Chu
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - M. Roberta Cilio
- Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco Benioff Children’s Hospital, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Sonia L. Bonifacio
- Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA
| | - Nicholas S. Abend
- Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, The Perelman School of Medicine, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Tammy N. Tsuchida
- Department of Neurology, Children’s National Health System, George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC
| | - Hannah C. Glass
- Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco Benioff Children’s Hospital, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA,Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics; University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
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Creeley CE. From Drug-Induced Developmental Neuroapoptosis to Pediatric Anesthetic Neurotoxicity-Where Are We Now? Brain Sci 2016; 6:brainsci6030032. [PMID: 27537919 PMCID: PMC5039461 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci6030032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2016] [Revised: 08/05/2016] [Accepted: 08/12/2016] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The fetal and neonatal periods are critical and sensitive periods for neurodevelopment, and involve rapid brain growth in addition to natural programmed cell death (i.e., apoptosis) and synaptic pruning. Apoptosis is an important process for neurodevelopment, preventing redundant, faulty, or unused neurons from cluttering the developing brain. However, animal studies have shown massive neuronal cell death by apoptosis can also be caused by exposure to several classes of drugs, namely gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) agonists and N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) antagonists that are commonly used in pediatric anesthesia. This form of neurotoxic insult could cause a major disruption in brain development with the potential to permanently shape behavior and cognitive ability. Evidence does suggest that psychoactive drugs alter neurodevelopment and synaptic plasticity in the animal brain, which, in the human brain, may translate to permanent neurodevelopmental changes associated with long-term intellectual disability. This paper reviews the seminal animal research on drug-induced developmental apoptosis and the subsequent clinical studies that have been conducted thus far. In humans, there is growing evidence that suggests anesthetics have the potential to harm the developing brain, but the long-term outcome is not definitive and causality has not been determined. The consensus is that there is more work to be done using both animal models and human clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine E Creeley
- Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Fredonia, Fredonia, NY 14063, USA.
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