title: Furosemide terminates limbic status epilepticus in freely moving rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the anticonvulsant properties of furosemide and to determine sedative side effects compared with pentobarbital and diuretic side effects compared with saline-treated controls in an experimental model of limbic status epilepticus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-sustaining status epilepticus was induced in rats by continuous electrical stimulation of the perforant path. Five minutes after the end of the stimulation, animals were given 100 mg/kg furosemide, 30 mg/kg pentobarbital, or an equal amount of saline, intraperitoneally. After administration of the substance, animals were monitored clinically and electrographically for 3 h regarding status epilepticus, level of sedation, and diuresis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In seven of 10 animals, furosemide terminated status epilepticus after 68 +/- 26 min, whereas pentobarbital was successful in all animals after 5 +/- 0.8 min. In contrast to pentobarbital, sedation did not occur with furosemide. Weight loss after furosemide was 10.2 +/- 1.7% compared with 6.5 +/- 1.1% in animals given saline (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that furosemide may serve as an alternative or additional agent for refractory complex partial status epilepticus in patients in whom common anesthetics are not justifiable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Hospital Charité, Berlin, Germany. martin.holtkamp@charite.de
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Holtkamp
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Matzen
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Buchheim
authors.forename: Matthew C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Hartmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Meierkord
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005665:Furosemide / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008032:Limbic System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013226:Status Epilepticus / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D005665:Furosemide