Targeting pharmacoresistant epilepsy and epileptogenesis with a dual-purpose antiepileptic drug

Editorial in Brain

The authors of a recent study examined whether eslicarbazepine acetate (ESL) could target refractoriness to AEDs in addition to halting epileptogenesis. Using tissue resected from individuals with refractory epilepsy and pilocarpine- treated rodents, they found that ESL conferred use-dependent blockade of Na+ channels, hence alluding to its potential role in decreasing refractoriness. ESL was also found to block CaV3.2 calcium channels, mossy fiber sprouting and decrease neurodegeneration, hence having a likely beneficial role in slowing epileptogenesis.

Summary for non-specialists