IEC 2023 | Inflammatory biomarkers to predict new-onset refractory status epilepticus outcomes

Aurelie Hanin, PharmD, PhD, Yale University, New Haven, CT, discusses the quantification of inflammatory biomarkers in new-onset refractory status epilepticus (NORSE) to predict short- and long-term outcomes. Patients with NORSE experience sudden onset refractory seizures that are resistant to anti-seizure medication. Dr Hanin investigated pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), including IL6 and TNF-α, during NORSE. Data analysis revealed that levels of these biomarkers can predict both negative outcomes, such as mortality and functional disability, as well as positive outcomes, such as the likelihood of recovery. These cytokine levels serve as indicators of neuronal loss and injury. There remains some debate over the development of post-NORSE epilepsy, which is difficult to predict. Various hypotheses exist, with the primary one suggesting that status epilepticus inflicts damage to brain tissue, triggering recurrent seizures. This interview took place at the International Epilepsy Congress (IEC) 2023 in Dublin, Ireland.

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