Seizures after traumatic brain injury and their treatment

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is characterized as a form of acquired brain injury and is recognized as a global public health problem, with a high incidence of post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE). Although the impact of TBI is recognized as a risk factor for epilepsy, the exact molecular signaling pathways have not yet been defined. Furthermore, there are caveats to consider when interpreting the effects of procedures and antiepileptic drugs that effectively reduce the frequency of acute post-traumatic seizures (PTSs) but do not alter the natural history of PTE. In order to complete this picture, the present chapter describes how the progression of neural injury over time contributes to late-onset seizure development post-TBI. A better understanding of post-traumatic injuries will lead to better treatments designed with specific molecular targets to prevent late seizures after neuronal injury. In this sense, the present state of the art of clinical management and experimental research on PTE treatment will be shown here.