Synaptic inhibitory dynamics drive benzodiazepine response in pediatric status epilepticus.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Pediatric status epilepticus (SE) is a medical emergency associated with significant morbidity. Benzodiazepines (BZPs) are the current first-line treatment, but do not work in more than one third of children presenting with SE. Animal studies have shown that SE can cause changes in synaptic inhibition signaling that can ultimately lead to BZPs becoming ineffective. However, the relevance of these mechanisms in pediatric patients with SE remains unknown.

Methods

To test this hypothesis, we combine clinical electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings with dynamic causal modeling (DCM). This approach allows model-based inference of cortical synaptic coupling parameters based on EEG recorded across distinct oscillatory states.

Results

Our DCM revealed that dynamic

SUBMITTER: Fedele T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12371633 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature