Water exchange across the blood-brain barrier and epilepsy: Review on pathophysiology and neuroimaging.
Epilepsia Open
; 9(4): 1123-1135, 2024 Aug.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38884502
ABSTRACT
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a barrier protecting the brain and a milieu of continuous exchanges between blood and brain. There is emerging evidence that the BBB plays a major role in epileptogenesis and drug-resistant epilepsy, through several mechanisms, such as water homeostasis dysregulation, overexpression of drug transporters, and inflammation. Studies have shown abnormal water homeostasis in epileptic tissue and altered aquaporin-4 water channel expression in animal epilepsy models. This review focuses on abnormal water exchange in epilepsy and describes recent non-invasive MRI methods of quantifying water exchange. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY:
Abnormal exchange between blood and brain contribute to seizures and epilepsy. The authors describe why correct water balance is necessary for healthy brain functioning and how it is impacted in epilepsy. This review also presents recent MRI methods to measure water exchange in human brain. These measures would improve our understanding of factors leading to seizures.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Blood-Brain Barrier
/
Epilepsy
/
Neuroimaging
Limits:
Animals
/
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Epilepsia Open
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country: