Adenosine augmentation therapy for epilepsy

Abstract

Deficiency of the brain's endogenous anticonvulsant adenosine is a pathologic hallmark of epilepsy. Consequently, focal adenosine augmentation therapies (AATs) constitute a rational approach for seizure suppression. Focal adenosine augmentation and resulting seizure suppression can be realized by implanting adenosine-releasing stem cells or polymers into epileptogenic brain regions. For an expanded treatment of this topic see Jasper's basic mechanisms of the epilepsies. 4th ed. (Noebels JL, Avoli M, Rogawski MA, Olsen RW, Delgado-Escueta AV, eds) published by Oxford University Press (available on the National Library of Medicine Bookshelf [NCBI] at). © 2010 International League Against Epilepsy.