title: Temporal lobe epilepsy exacerbation during pharmacological inhibition of endogenous neurosteroid synthesis.
abstract: We report the case of a woman who presented cryptogenic temporal lobe seizures from the age of 43 years. Antiepileptic drug (AED) treatment with carbamazepine was able to control seizures for 1 year, but seizures relapsed and an add-on treatment with lamotrigine was started without achieving seizures control. The patient's medical history was unremarkable except for a mild hirsutism for which she was taking finasteride since 45 years of age. In view of the possible relationship between finasteride, a known inhibitor of neurosteroids synthesis, and patient's seizures exacerbation, we stopped finasteride resulting in prompt recovery of seizures control. It is know that 5α-dihydrosteroids are precursors of powerful positive modulators of γ-aminobutyric acid-A inhibitory currents and exert antiseizure effects in animal epilepsy models. This case supports the hypothesis that endogenous neurosteroids can modulate seizure susceptibility and response to AEDs also in humans, suggesting their possible use as a new therapeutic option.
authors: Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences,  University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena,  Italy.
authors: Matteo
authors: M
authors: Pugnaghi
authors: Giulia
authors: G
authors: Monti
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Biagini
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Meletti
mesh_terms: D058891:5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D018120:Finasteride / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D000077213:Lamotrigine; D008875:Middle Aged; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013997:Time Factors; D014227:Triazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D058891:5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D014227:Triazines; D018120:Finasteride; D000077213:Lamotrigine