title: The etiological role of blood-brain barrier dysfunction in seizure disorders.
abstract: A wind of change characterizes epilepsy research efforts. The traditional approach, based on a neurocentric view of seizure generation, promoted understanding of the neuronal mechanisms of seizures; this resulted in the development of potent anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs). The fact that a significant number of individuals with epilepsy still fail to respond to available AEDs restates the need for an alternative approach. Blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction is an important etiological player in seizure disorders, and combination therapies utilizing an AED in conjunction with a "cerebrovascular" drug could be used to control seizures more effectively than AED therapy alone. The fact that the BBB plays an etiologic role in other neurological diseases will be discussed in the context of a more "holistic" approach to the patient with epilepsy, where comorbidity variables are also encompassed by drug therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, NB-20 LRI 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Marchi
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tierney
authors.forename: Andreas V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Alexopoulos
authors.forename: Vikram
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Puvenna
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Granata
authors.forename: Damir
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Janigro