The serotonin axis: Shared mechanisms in seizures, depression, and SUDEP

George B Richerson; Gordon F Buchanan

doi:10.1111/j.1528-1167.2010.02908.x

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The serotonin axis: Shared mechanisms in seizures, depression, and SUDEP

Journal article

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Peer reviewed

The serotonin axis: Shared mechanisms in seizures, depression, and SUDEP

George B Richerson and Gordon F Buchanan

Epilepsia (Copenhagen), Vol.52 Suppl 1(1), pp.28-38

01/2011

DOI: 10.1111/j.1528-1167.2010.02908.x

PMCID: PMC3052632

PMID: 21214537

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https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1528-1167.2010.02908.xView

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Abstract

There is a growing appreciation that patients with seizures are also affected by a number of comorbid conditions, including an increase in prevalence of depression (Kanner, 2009), sleep apnea (Chihorek et al., 2007), and sudden death (Ryvlin et al., 2006; Tomson et al., 2008). The mechanisms responsible for these associations are unclear. Herein we discuss the possibility that underlying pathology in the serotonin (5-HT) system of patients with epilepsy lowers the threshold for seizures, while also increasing the risk of depression and sudden death. We propose that postictal dysfunction of 5-HT neurons causes depression of breathing and arousal in some epilepsy patients, and this can lead to sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). We further draw parallels between SUDEP and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), which may share pathophysiologic mechanisms, and which have both been linked to defects in the 5-HT system.

Sudden Infant Death - pathology

Serotonin - physiology

Depression - physiopathology

Epilepsy - psychology

Humans

Respiratory Tract Diseases - pathology

Infant

Death, Sudden - pathology

Epilepsy - physiopathology

Seizures - complications

Epilepsy - complications

Seizures - physiopathology

Respiratory Tract Diseases - etiology

Animals

Depression - psychology

Depression - complications

Child

Infant, Newborn

Disease Models, Animal

Seizures - psychology

Details

Title: Subtitle: The serotonin axis: Shared mechanisms in seizures, depression, and SUDEP
Creators: George B Richerson - Department of Neurology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. george-richerson@uiowa.edu
Gordon F Buchanan
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Epilepsia (Copenhagen), Vol.52 Suppl 1(1), pp.28-38
DOI: 10.1111/j.1528-1167.2010.02908.x
PMID: 21214537
PMCID: PMC3052632
NLM abbreviation: Epilepsia
ISSN: 0013-9580
eISSN: 1528-1167
Publisher: United States
Grant note: R01 HD052772-05 / NICHD NIH HHS R01 HL052539 / NHLBI NIH HHS R01 HL052539-11 / NHLBI NIH HHS R01 HD052772 / NICHD NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 01/2011
Academic Unit: Neurology; Molecular Physiology and Biophysics; Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Neurosurgery
Record Identifier: 9984020489002771

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