Neurológia pre prax 5/2022

The role of corticosteroids in the treatment of epilepsy

The inflammatory processes in the brain are a part of the pathophysiological mechanism; involved in epileptogenesis, an onset of seizure activity and the development of drug resistance. The endogenous anti-inflammatory response fails, and the inflammation develops during recurrent seizures or status epilepticus. Thus, it plays a crucial role in the retaining seizure activity and the continuing seizures. A relation between inflammation and epilepsy is, therefore, reciprocal. Corticoids and ACTH partly mediate the anticonvulsant effect by their anti-inflammatory characteristics. The corticosteroids have achieved a wide range of use in epileptology, both in the chronic treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy and as a part of acute management of new-onset refractory status epilepticus, thanks to their complex effect.

Keywords: corticoids, corticosteroids, inflammation, therapy, side effects