THE ROLE OF PHARMACOGENOMICS IN TREATING PHARMACORESISTANT EPILEPSY

Abstract

The percentage of patients exhibiting refractory epilepsy remains unchanged, despite the advent of new therapeutic choices. The understanding of this phenomenon passes through the research and understanding of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of anti-epileptic drugs, processes significantly determined by patients’ genotype. The absorption and distribution, the metabolism and excretion of a substance as well as the action on target-proteins are key components of antiepileptic drugs properties, and the presence of mutations and polymorphisms of proteins involved in these steps can also contribute to the phenomenon of pharmacoresistance. The complexity and extensiveness of this topic make it difficult for someone to follow and have a global understanding of it. Here we attempt a brief review of the literature with the aim of comprehensive presentation of the current knowledge as well as the major mutations and polymorphisms involved in the phenomenon of pharmacoresistance.