Ion Channels in Epilepsy

Abstract

Data from the World Health Organization indicated a worldwide prevalence of epilepsy of about 50 million people. An epileptic seizure is a period of abnormal synchronous excitation of a neuronal population. The balance between control systems that prevent neurons from an excessive action potential discharge and other systems that facilitate excitation maintains the proper functioning of the central nervous system. This study aimed to collect information on role of channelopathies in the pathophysiological processess of epileptic seizures, along with considerations about antiepileptic therapy targeting ion channels. We performed a bibliographic review, using the databases Medline/PubMed, Scielo, Scirus, Wiley Online Library and Science Direct. The keywors used were: epilepsy, epileptic seizures, ion channels, channelopathies, antiepileptic drugs and epidemiology, in both Portuguese and English. Some epileptic syndromes were considered channelopathies after genetic investigations and therefore increased the understanding of the pathophysiology convulsive disorders. Given the inability to cure with currently available antiepileptic drugs, the major challenge for scientific research is the discovery of a treatment capable of prevent or reverse epilepsy.