Postinfectious epilepsy (literature review)

Abstract

Recently, a large amount of evidence has been obtained on the possible involvement of inflammatory processes in epileptogenesis. Thus, in a number of studies, an increase in the synthesis of specific inflammatory mediators in the brain of patients and, accordingly, the activation of some pro-inflammatory pathways in the foci of seizures, as well as the participation of oxidative stress, was found. There was also information that some chronic infections, such as neurocistercosis, HIV and herpes, without causing acute cerebral pathology, can provoke epileptic seizures and even the formation of refractory epilepsy in the future. This review summarizes the experimental and clinical data from studies on the relationship between epilepsy and chronic infectious diseases and neuroinflammation.