癫痫患儿外周血CD19+B、 CD20+B淋巴细胞和自然杀伤细胞的检测及意义

目的探讨儿童癫痫患者外周血CD 19+13、CD20+B淋巴细胞和自然杀伤(NK)细胞的表达及其意义。方法选择中山大学孙逸仙纪念医院自2008年1月至2010年12月收治的癫痫患儿458例为病例组,另设同期该院52例健康对照者为对照组。应用流式细胞仪对2组成员外周血CD19+B细胞、CD20+B细胞和NK细胞的表达进行检测及比较,同时分析92例应用静脉注射免疫球蛋白(IVIG)治疗的癫痫患儿治疗前后细胞表达的改变。 结果癫痫患儿CD19+B细胞和CD20+B细胞比例分别为(22.35％±6.54％)、(21.50％±8.41％),明显高于正常对照组(16.86％±4.02％)、(16.13％±4.19％),差异有统计学意义(P≤0.05); NK细胞比例为(9.11％±4.90％),明显低于正常对照组(14.72％±4.15％),差异有统计学意义(P≤0.05)。IVIG治疗6个月后癫痫患儿CD19+B细胞和CD20+B细胞比例分别为(18.26％±5.03％)、(16.74％±5.12％),较治疗前(22.74％±6.25％)、(21.61％±8.03％)明显降低,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05);而NK细胞为(14.65％±4.58％),较治疗前(9.07％±4.76％)明显升高,差异亦有统计学意义(P＜0.05)。92例IVIG治疗患儿中,22例无效,70例有效,有效与无效患儿外周血CD19+B细胞和CD20+B细胞比例治疗前后差值差异具有统计学意义(P＜0.05),但外周血NK细胞比例治疗前后差值差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。 结论癫痫患儿存在B淋巴细胞和NK细胞功能异常,IVIG治疗能改善癫痫患儿的免疫功能紊乱;外周血CD19+B细胞、CD20+B细胞可做为癫痫IVIG治疗疗效的监测指标。     

左乙拉西坦与奥卡西平联合治疗小儿癫痫临床疗效及对患儿免疫功能、脑电图以及认知功能的影响

目的探析左乙拉西坦与奥卡西平联合治疗小儿癫痫临床疗效及对患儿免疫功能、脑电图(EEG)以及认知功能的影响。方法选取徐州市儿童医院2018年1月至2018年12月收治的癫痫患儿49例,数字标号,简单随机法分组,行单盲、前瞻性对照实验(RCT),观察组(25例)给予左乙拉西坦与奥卡西平联合用药,对照组(24例)单用奥卡西平。比较两组免疫功能指标(IgA、IgM、IgG、CD3~+、CD4~+),EEG,认知功能变化,观察患儿临床疗效,记录不良反应。结果两组患儿治疗16 w后IgA、IgM、IgG、CD4~+均明显降低,CD3~+明显升高,FIQ、PIQ、VIQ等认知功能评分明显提高,与治疗前比较(P <0.05)差异有统计学意义。且观察组IgA、IgM、IgG、CD4~+、CD3~+及FIQ、PIQ、VIQ评分改善幅度明显优于对照组(P <0.05)。观察组痫样放电治疗有效率明显高于对照组(P <0.05)。观察组治疗有效率为88.00%(22/25),对照组治疗有效率为75.00%(18/24),观察组治疗有效率明显高于对照组(P<0.05)。患儿均未发生严重不良反应,两组不良反应率比较差异无统计学意义P <0.05)。结论小儿癫痫采取左乙拉西坦与奥卡西平联合用药疗效确切,减少癫痫发作频次,控制EEG损害,改善认知功能,神经免疫双向调节。     

左乙拉西坦对癫痫患儿的症状改善效果及免疫调节作用研究

目的探究左乙拉西坦对癫痫患儿的临床症状改善情况以及对其免疫功能的调节作用。方法我院2012-03-2014-06收治的癫痫患儿中选取73例为研究对象。随机分为治疗组36例,采用左乙拉西坦治疗;余37例为对照组,采用托吡酯治疗。治疗前后对2组的淋巴细胞亚群水平、血清免疫球蛋白水平进行检测,并观察分析2组临床疗效及在治疗过程中出现不良反应情况。结果治疗组总有效率为94.44%,对照组为89.19%,2组差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。治疗前后对治疗组的淋巴细胞亚群水平(CD3~+、CD4~+、CD8~+、CD4~+/CD8~+)及血清免疫球蛋白水平(IgA,IgM,IgG)进行对比后发现,各项数据在治疗前后差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。治疗组不良反应发生率为13.89%,对照组为16.22%,差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论左乙拉西坦能够有效控制癫痫患儿的临床症状,用药安全可靠,具有较好的临床疗效。同时能够对患儿的免疫功能起到调节作用,从一定程度上改善了患儿的免疫功能,提高了患儿的生存质量,值得在临床上推广使用。     

地黄合剂在多发性硬化患者中抗炎性反应及调节免疫平衡机制探讨

目的 观察地黄合剂(DHHJ)在多发性硬化(MS)患者中发挥的双向治疗作用并探讨其机制. 方法 将40例MS患者采用随机数字表法分为激素治疗组(n=20)与激素治疗+DHHJ组(n=20),根据组名采取相应治疗.另设20例排除免疫系统疾病及感染类疾病的外科手术患者作为对照组.分别用EUSA法和流式细胞仪检测两组观察对象脑脊液(CSF)和外周血中胶质原纤维酸性蛋I~(GFAP)和S100B的含量及CD4+细胞,CD8+细胞数目.用下肢功能状态的评分(AD、延展残疾状态评分(EDSS)、上肢功能状态评分(9HPT)对MS患者进行临床评分并分析其与GFAP、S100B之间的关系.随访MS患者的复发情况. 结果 与对照组比较.MS组CSF中GFAP和S100B表达明显增强,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),并且与MS患者的AI、9HPT评分存在相关关系.DHHJ+激素治疗组与激素治疗组患者CSF中GFAP和S100B含量差异也有统计学意义(P<0.05).同时DHHJ+激素治疗组MS的复发次数与激素治疗组比较差异也有统计学意义(P<0.05).MS患者的外周血和CSF中出现CD4+细胞明显增多,CD8+细胞明显减少;CSF中更明显.给予不同的治疗后.CD4+细胞数目减少.CD8+细胞数目增多,DHHJ+激素治疗组与激素治疗组之间差异有统计学意义(p<0.05). 结论 DHHJ 一方面能够影响MS患者CSF中GFAP和S100B的表达,抑制胶质细胞的激活,达到抗炎性反应作用;另一方面DHHJ还可以通过上调免疫抑制性CD8+细胞的数目,下调免疫辅助性CD4+细胞,发挥调节免疫平衡作用,最终达到双向治疗MS的作用,减少MS患者复发的次数.     

醒脑静注射液联合奥卡西平对癫痫患者T淋巴细胞亚群及血清ALP ICAM-I水平变化影响

目的探讨醒脑静注射液联合奥卡西平对癫痫患者T淋巴细胞亚群及血清碱性磷酸酶(ALP)、细胞间黏附分子(ICAM-I)水平变化影响。方法选取2014-10—2016-11我院收治的86例癫痫患者,随机数字表法分为2组各43例。对照组给予奥卡西平,研究组给予醒脑静注射液+奥卡西平,2组均治疗3个月。统计2组临床疗效、T淋巴细胞亚群指标(CD3~+、CD4~+、CD8~+)与ALP、ICAM-I变化情况、不良反应发生情况。结果研究组治疗有效率(97.67%)高于对照组(74.42%),差异有统计学意义(P0.05);治疗后研究组CD3~+、CD4~+水平高于对照组,CD8~+水平低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);治疗后研究组ICAM-I水平低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);研究组不良反应发生率(13.95%)与对照组(18.60%)相比,差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论醒脑静注射液联合奥卡西平治疗癫痫患者可改善T淋巴细胞亚群、降低ICAM-I水平,且临床疗效显著,安全性较高。     

免疫球蛋白G对癫痫大鼠抽搐表现及免疫细胞的影响

目的研究人静脉用免疫球蛋白G(intravenous immunoglobulin G,IVIG)对印防己毒(picrotoxin,PTX)点燃癫痫模型大鼠抽搐表现、外周血淋巴细胞亚群及海马CA1区IgG表达的影响。方法实验大鼠采用PTX1.5mg/(kg·d),连续造模21d,并先后给予IVIG500mg(kg·d),连续4d后,观察大鼠抽搐发作表现,并检测大鼠外周血CD3+T细胞及CD4+T细胞比例、B细胞分子的表达、海马CA1区的IgG免疫反应阳性(IgG-IR)细胞水平变化。结果与对照组比较,IVIG预处理组的潜伏期于PTX造模的第1～12d明显延长(P0.05),第13～21d则趋向一致(P0.05);IVIG治疗组于IVIG治疗期间较对照组的潜伏期明显延长(P0.05)。与对照组比较,IVIG预处理及IVIG治疗组B细胞比例、IgG-IR细胞表达水平明显降低,CD3+T细胞及CD4+T细胞比例明显升高(P0.05)。结论 IVIG预处理或治疗后,癫痫大鼠的发作潜伏期明显延长,可能与其下调癫痫大鼠外周血B细胞及海马CA1区IgG的表达,上调外周血中CD3+T、CD4+T细胞的表达有关。     

吉兰-巴雷综合征患者免疫球蛋白治疗前后T淋巴细胞亚群的变化及其意义

目的 研究吉兰-巴雷综合征(GBS)患者应用静脉大剂量注射免疫球蛋白(IVIG)治疗前后T淋巴细胞亚群的变化,并进一步探讨IVIG治疗GBS的可能机制.方法 选择31例临床确诊的GBS患者,以治疗前后作为自身对照,根据治疗效果评定为效优组和效劣组,应用流式细胞分析仪检测GBS患者外周血中T淋巴细胞亚群相对计数.结果 ①GBS患者急性期治疗后CD8+T细胞(28.77%±11.02%)和CD4+CD29+T细胞百分率(56.71%±12.44%)较治疗前(分别为31.84%±12.35%、62.40%±12.72%)显著降低(t=2.995、3.919,P＜0.05),CD4+/CD8+值和CD4+CD45RA+T细胞百分率较治疗前显著升高(t=2.368、3.860,P＜0.05),但治疗前后CD3+T细胞和CD4+T细胞百分率差异无统计学意义.②效优组CD8+T细胞和CD4+CD29+T细胞百分率较治疗前显著降低(t=2.144、3.343,P＜0.05),CD4+/CD8+值和CD4+CD45RA+T细胞百分率较治疗前显著升高(t=2.159、3.277,P＜0.05),效劣组T淋巴细胞亚群分布在治疗前后未发生明显变化.③在本组资料中,IVIG治疗急性期GBS 2周内的显效率为61.29%(19/31),无死亡病例.结论 急性期GBS患者在IVIG治疗前后发生了不同程度T淋巴细胞亚群分布的改变,为探讨GBS的发病机制及IVIG治疗GBS的机制提供了免疫学基础;IVIG治疗效果好,能够有效抑制病情进展,促进神经功能恢复.     

奥卡西平联合银杏达莫注射液对癫痫患儿的作用机制研究

目的探讨奥卡西平联合银杏达莫注射液对癫痫患儿T淋巴细胞亚群及血清碱性磷酸酶(ALP)、细胞间黏附分子1(ICAM-1)水平变化的影响。方法选取洛阳市妇女儿童医疗保健中心77例癫痫患儿,按照随机数字表法分组,对照组38例予以单一奥卡西平治疗,观察组39例给予奥卡西平+银杏达莫注射液治疗,观察2组临床治疗效果、T淋巴细胞亚群(CD3+、CD4+、CD8+)及血清ALP、ICAM-1水平变化情况,并统计2组不良反应发生情况及生活质量评分。结果观察组总有效率94.87%(37/39),高于对照组的71.05%(27/38),差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。治疗3个月后观察组CD3+及CD4+均高于对照组,CD8+低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。治疗3个月后2组血清ALP水平比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05),观察组血清ICAM-1水平低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。观察组不良反应发生率15.38%(6/39),对照组为10.53%(4/38),差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。治疗3个月后观察组社会能力、认知功能、总体健康、生活质量、药物影响、精神健康及生活满意度评分均高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论银杏达莫注射液辅助奥卡西平治疗癫痫效果显著,安全性高,可改善患儿血清ICAM-1水平及T淋巴细胞亚群,提高其生活质量。     

脑胶质瘤患者T淋巴细胞亚群检测的临床意义

目的 探讨T淋巴细胞亚群与胶质瘤恶性程度及其预后的关系,寻找术前评估胶质瘤恶性程度及其预后的临床免疫学指标. 方法 对中山大学肿瘤防治中心神经外科自2003年1月至2004年12月收治住院的117例脑肿瘤患者[其中胶质瘤共85例,高级别组(WHO Ⅲ～Ⅳ级)45例,低级别组(WHO Ⅰ～Ⅱ级)40例;脑膜瘤32例]术前用流式细胞仪(FACS)测定T淋巴细胞的含量,统计分析不同级别胶质瘤、脑膜瘤之间免疫学指标的差异,并依据术前外周血T淋巴细胞亚群检测结果,把胶质瘤患者分为CIM+/CD8~+比值>1及CD4~+/CD8~+比值<1两组,随访3～5年,作生存分析,比较两组之间的差异. 结果 统计分析结果显示,高级别胶质瘤组较低级别胶质瘤组CD4~+/CD8~+比值下降、CD8~+升高,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05),其余指标差异无统计学意义.高级别胶质瘤组较脑膜瘤组CD4~+/CD8~+比值下降、CD8~+升高,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05),其余指标差异尤统计学意义.低级别胶质瘤组较脑膜瘤组CD4~+/CD8~+比值下降,差异有统计学意3L(P<0.05),其余指标差异无统计学意义.胶质瘤组与脑膜瘤组比较,CD4~+、CD4~+/CD8~+值下降、CD8~+升高,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05),CD3~+差异无统计学意义.CD4~+/CD8~+比值>1组患者48例随访3～5年,死亡21例(43.8%),中位生存期31个月;CD4~+/CD8~+比值<1的患者37例,死亡23例(62.2%),中位生存期16个月.两者行生存分析Kaplan Meier法检验,差异有统计学意SL(P<0.05). 结论 术前外周血T淋巴细胞亚群与胶质瘤的恶性程度相关.CD4~+/CD8~+比值低的患者生存时间较短,预后差.术前外周血T淋巴细胞哑群检测可以作为临床评估胶质瘤恶性程度及预后的参考指标.     

重症肌无力患者外周血调节性T细胞及B细胞激活因子受体的分析

目的 研究重症肌无力(MG)患者外周血多群调节性T细胞的水平及其B细胞表达B细胞激活因子受体(B cell-activating factor receptor,BAFF-R)的情况.方法 应用四色流式细胞仪检测61例MG患者与23名健康对照外周血调节性T细胞(CD4+ CD25 high Foxp3+、CD8+ CD28-、CD8+ CD122+)以及CD19+ BAFF-R+细胞的百分率.结果 MG组与健康对照组外周血CD4+ CD25 high Foxp3+ T细胞的百分率分别为32.12%±16.12%与65.15%±14.72%,MG组该群调节性T细胞的水平明显低于健康对照组(P＜0.01);两组CD8+ CD28-及CD8+ CD122+ T细胞的水平差异无统计学意义.此外,MG组外周血CD19+ BAFF-R+细胞的水平(10.57%±5.59%)显著高于健康对照组(5.38%±3.87%,P＜0.01).大剂量激素或大剂量激素加丙种球蛋白治疗后短期内可使MG组外周血CD4+ CD25 high Foxp3+调节性T细胞的百分率增加(P＜0.05).结论 MG患者Foxp3+的CD4+ CD25 high调节性T细胞的减少提示MG患者存在免疫和耐受的失衡,显示了T细胞的自身免疫性.在B细胞方面,MG患者外周血CD19+ B细胞上BAFF-R表达增高,提示其体内B细胞已处于易激活状态.     

Intravenous high-dose gammaglobulins for intractable childhood epilepsy

Immunological mechanisms have been implicated in the pathogenesis of epileptic seizures in some patients and in experimental animal models of epilepsy. A beneficial effect of high dose intravenous gammaglobulin (IVIG) has been demonstrated for some children with intractable epilepsy. In this study we treated 9 children ages 1.1–9.2 years (mean 5.0 years) with intractable epilepsy not responsive to conventional antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and steroid therapy. Eight children and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and 1 had complex partial seizures with secondary generalization. Each child received 3 doses of IVIG (200 mg/kg of polyvalent immunoglobulin) on Days 1, 15 and 36. Concomitant AEDs were not changed. Four children had complete remission, 3 had partial response with a more than 50% reduction in seizure frequency and 2 had no response. Onset of response varied from immediate to 7 months after the last injection. No toxicity was noted. Duration of remission was 9 months in 1 case. The other 3 cases have remained in remission to date with a follow up period of 22–26 months. We conclude that IVIG is a safe therapy which appears to be effective in some children with intractable seizures. Children with shorter duration of their seizure disorder (<1 year) and relatively preserved cognitive function (IQ> 70) appear to have a more favorable response. Larger scale controlled trials are needed to determine the optimal timing and dosage, as well as to identify specific subgroups which may benefit most from IVIG treatment.     

Role of Vigabatrin and Lamotrigine in Treatment of Childhood Epileptic Syndromes

Summary: Purpose: Vigabatrin (VGB) and lamotrigine (LTG) are two new antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) with different mechanisms of action for treatment of refractory epilepsies. Previous reports have indicated efficacy of both drugs in a number of epileptic syndromes.
Methods: We compared these new AEDs drugs to determine their respective efficacy against different types of epileptic syndrome and to develop a rational approach to their use. We reviewed the charts of 105 children, with partial and generalized epilepsies.
Results: VGB was to be significantly more effective in children with partial epilepsies, and LTG was more effective in those with generalized epilepsies.
Conclusions: VGB and LTG have different therapeutic profiles. Combination treatment with the two drugs may represent rational polytherapy for patients with epilepsy resistant to treatment with either drug alone or as add-on to other AED treatment.     

Febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome: A study of 12 patients

PurposeTo analyze the electroclinical features, neuroimaging findings, treatment, and outcome of 12 patients with febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome (FIRES).MethodsThis is a retrospective study of 12 children with FIRES with a mean time of follow-up of 6.5 years carried out at the Garrahan Hospital of Buenos Aires between 1997 and 2012.ResultsEight males and four females had focal status epilepticus preceded by febrile infection with a mean age at presentation of 8.5 years. In the acute period, the treatment included antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in all cases, immunotherapy in 10 cases, and burst-suppression coma in eight. The ketogenic diet was tried in two, plasmapheresis in one, and rituximab in one. Two patients treated with IVIG and one patient given steroids had a good response, but in this phase only three patients had a prolonged good response to IVIG and a ketogenic diet. No patients died in this period. In the chronic epilepsy phase, all children had seizures arising from neocortical regions. All patients had refractory epilepsy, and most mental retardation, and behavioral disturbances. All received different AEDs and in this phase a third patient was put on a ketogenic diet. One patient was operated without good results. Only two cases had a good outcome after 2 and 10 years of follow-up.ConclusionFIRES is a well-defined severe epileptic syndrome, probably in the group of epileptic encephalopathies, characterized by focal or multifocal seizures arising from the neocortical regions with an unknown etiology. Immunoglobulin and the ketogenic diet may be considered a potentially efficacious treatment.     

Intractable epilepsy of childhood and its treatment

This paper discusses the concept of epilepsy intractability as the criterium qualifying for the administration of polytherapy, inclusion of new antiepileptic drugs /AEDs/ and application of neurosurgical treatment. There were also diagnostic criteria and complication discussed. To define the concept of epilepsy intractability correctly and to administer appropriate treatment, it is necessary to classify the kind of seizures and their possible reasons, to apply suitable AEDs, their doses and to treat patients with them for a suitable period of time. Intractable forms of epilepsy are diagnosed at about 20-30% of patients with suitable treatment. The disease prevalence is different at particular age groups and depends also on seizure type or epileptic syndrome. Therefore, Ohtahar syndrome, West, Lennox and Gastaut syndromes, epilepsia partialis continua belong to intractable epileptic syndromes at children. There is the biggest risk of psychic disorders appearance among patients resistant to antiepileptic treatment. Moreover, long-term application of AEDs may be associated with the induction of epileptic seizures, occurrence of side and toxic symptoms. Great interest in intractable epilepsy is connected with huge progress in treatment of this disease which has resulted in introduction of many new AEDs for the last few years. Its inclusion into treatment, first as add--on therapy, and then, due to clinical examinations, also as a monotherapy, enables the improvement in seizure control and in the quality of patients' life.     

癫(癎)患者认知功能障碍及其影响因素的分析

目的 探讨癫(癎)患者认知功能障碍及其影响因素.方法 采用韦氏儿童智力量表及成人智力量表对125例癫(癎)患者的认知功能进行测定,并分析年龄、发作类型、癫(癎)综合征类型、病因、发作频率、严重程度、脑电图改变、服用药物及家族史等因素对其的影响.结果 癫(癎)患者认知功能障碍发生率为18.4%,儿童(27.8%)高于成人(14.6%).癫(癎)组儿童和成人患者总智商(F7Q)、操作智商(PIQ)和言语智商(VIQ)、言语理解因子(VCF)、知觉组织因子(POF)和记忆/注意不分心因子(MF)显著低于相应的正常对照组(均P<0.01).多因素回归分析显示,发作程度越严重、服用药物的数量越多,智商越低,全面发作对智商的影响最明显.结论 癫(癎)患者存在明显的认知功能障碍,发作严重程度、服药数量,发作形式是影响其认知功能的独立危险因素.     

儿童癫痫的外科治疗(附26例分析)

目的 探讨儿童癫痫外科手术治疗的经验和效果。方法根据26例儿童癫痫患者发作时的临床表现，结合术前的EEG／V-EEG、CT／MRI和发作间期SPECT／PET的结果，对他们的致痫灶进行定位，术中在皮层脑电图(ECoG)监测下进行手术，术后随访1年以上观察手术的疗效。结果26例患者术后随访平均4．6年显示，15例患者疗效满意，3例疗效显著，3例效果良好，5例效果较差，手术有效率为80．77％，优良率为69．23％。结论儿童癫痫患者在抗痫药物无法控制时，如果致痫灶定位准确．应尽早考虑外科手术治疗，以尽量减少癫痫对大脑发育关键时期的潜在损害，防止行为和智能方面出现问题，并利用大脑的可塑性达到最大程度的功能恢复。     

Overtreatment in children with epilepsy

Children with epilepsy are at risk for overtreatment, defined as the use of an excessive number or amount of antiepiletic drugs (AEDs). While the extent of overtreatment of epilepsy in children is not known, there is increasing awareness that overtreatment with AEDs contributes to the morbidity associated with childhood epilepsy. Reasons for overtreatment include using AEDs in a child with seizures who does not require therapy, choosing an inappropriate AED for the seizure type or syndrome; treating non-epileptic behaviors as seizures, use of polytherapy when monotherapy would suffice, and inadequate therapeutic options. Despite the introduction of eight new AEDs in the United States during the last decade, many children continue to be treated with the older generation sedative AEDs. Numerous investigators have now demonstrated that sedative AEDs can be safely removed from the drug regimen of children with epilepsy with resultant improvement in behavior, alertness, and improved seizure control. However, the biggest obstacle to overtreatment is the lack of effective therapies for many of the childhood epileptic syndromes. Until there are more effective therapies developed it is highly likely that children will continue to be over-medicated on ineffective and detrimental AEDs.     

Inter-individual variation in the anticonvulsant effect of phenobarbital in the pilocarpine rat model of temporal lobe epilepsy

Despite a large therapeutic arsenal of old and new antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), there remains a substantial unmet need for the patients with refractory (AED-resistant) epilepsy. Animal models of refractory epilepsy are needed for at least two goals; (1) better understanding of the mechanisms underlying resistance to AEDs, and (2) development of more efficacious AEDs for patients with refractory seizures. It is only incompletely understood why two patients with seemingly identical types of epilepsy and seizures may respond differently to the same AED. Prompted by this well-known clinical phenomenon, we tested whether epileptic rats from the same epilepsy model respond differently to AEDs and previously discovered phenobarbital (PB) responsive and resistant animals in groups of rats in which epilepsy had been induced by sustained electrical stimulation of the basolateral amygdala (BLA). In the present study, we used the same approach for the widely used pilocarpine model of temporal lobe epilepsy. Epileptic rats from this model were continuously video/EEG monitored over seven consecutive weeks, starting with a predrug control period of two weeks, then two weeks of daily treatment with PB at maximum tolerated doses, and finally a postdrug control period of three weeks. In those rats that were included in response selection, 50% did not adequately respond to PB, whereas PB significantly decreased seizure frequency and severity in another 50% of the animals. Responders and nonresponders did not differ in predrug seizure frequency, PB plasma levels or hippocampal neurodegeneration, but behavioral differences were observed in anxiety models. These findings demonstrate that in the pilocarpine model, similar to epilepsy patients, epileptic rats differ in their response to an AED, which is most likely due to as yet unknown genetic factors.