title: Neonatal seizures therapy: we are still looking for the efficacious drug.
abstract: Therapeutic options currently available for neonatal seizures are still unsatisfactory both in terms of efficacy and of risk for long-term neurotoxicity, even if there is growing recognition of their potential to worsen neurodevelopmental outcome. A recent paper by Slaughter and colleagues entitled "Pharmacological treatment of neonatal seizures: a systematic review" has been published with the aim to provide a treatment algorithm, but, due to the relative paucity of clinical studies, it relies mainly on traditional antiepileptic drugs and does not distinguish between different neonatal populations, especially preterm and hypothermic neonates, who might require a dedicated approach in order to improve seizure control and reduce side effects.
authors.affiliation: Child Neuropsychiatric Unit, Neuroscience Department, University of Parma, Parma, Italy. carlotta.spagnoli@gmail.com
authors.forename: Carlotta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Spagnoli
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pavlidis
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pisani
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants