Glutamatergic excitotoxicity secondary to status epilepticus after crack abuse: a case report

Abstract

Cartas aos editores Glutamatergic excitotoxicity secondary to status epilepticus after crack abuse: a case report Excitotoxicidade glutamatérgica secundária ao uso de crack: relato de caso Dear Editor, Glutamate is a major excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. Overstimulation of postsynaptic receptors causes excitotoxicity, which underlies neuronal loss 1 resulting in injury in many seemingly unrelated disorders, including ischemia, trauma, hypoglycemia, hypoxia, status epilepticus, Wernicke syndrome, and even neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Huntington's disease. 1,2 In status epilepticus, neuronal seizure activity increases the release of glutamate at presynaptic terminals. Encephalopathy with status epilepticus often involves the hippocampus, other parts of the limbic system, the thalamus, and the cerebellum. 3