Neurological research
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Gabapentin is an anti-epileptic drug (AED) that was approved in 1993 for the adjunct treatment of complex partial seizures (CPS) with and without generalization. Although the mechanism of action of gabapentin has not been fully elucidated, it has been shown to be effective not only as an adjunct AED in patients with CPS, but also in children with epilepsy, many pain syndromes (most notably neuropathic pain), and several other neurological diseases. The efficacy of the drug as an AED In both adults and children has been mostly seen when used as an adjunct with other AEDs. ⋯ Also, the dosing of the drug in children has been complicated by negative behavioral adverse effects. Overall, gabapentin has a low incidence of adverse effects, a pharmacokinetic profile that limits its drug interactions, and limited effects on cognition when compared to traditional AEDs. The dosing of the drug is dependent on the disease state targeted, the number of specific therapeutic drugs used, and the renal function of the patient.
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Neurological research · Dec 2001
Clinical TrialClinical cerebral microdialysis: brain metabolism and brain tissue oxygenation after acute brain injury.
While continuous monitoring of brain tissue oxygenation (P(ti)O2) is known as a practicable, safe and reliable monitoring technology supplementing traditional ICP-CPP-monitoring, the impact of cerebral microdialysis, now available bedside, is not proven extensively. Therefore our studies focused on the practicability, complications and clinical impact of microdialysis during long term monitoring after acute brain injury, especially the analysis of the correlation between changes of local brain oxygenation and metabolism. Advanced neuromonitoring including ICP-CPP-p(ti)O2 was performed in 20 patients suffering from acute brain injury. ⋯ Our data strongly suggest partly evidence of correlation between hypoxic oxygenation and metabolic disturbances after brain injury. On the other hand brain metabolism is altered without changes of cerebral oxygenation. Further studies are indicated to improve our pathophysiological knowledge before microdialysis is routinely useful in neurointensive care.