Furosemide Terminates Limbic Status Epilepticus in Freely Moving Rats

• Published in: Epilepsia (Copenhagen) Vol. 44; no. 9; pp. 1141 - 1144
• Main Authors: Holtkamp, Martin, Matzen, Julia, Buchheim, Katharina, Walker, Matthew C., Meierkord, Hartmut
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 350 Main Street , Malden , MA 02148 , U.S.A Blackwell Science Inc 01-09-2003; Blackwell
• Subjects: Animals; Anticonvulsants. Antiepileptics. Antiparkinson agents; Biological and medical sciences; Electroencephalography - methods; Experimental epilepsy model; Female; Freely moving rat; Furosemide; Furosemide - pharmacology; Furosemide - therapeutic use; Headache. Facial pains. Syncopes. Epilepsia. Intracranial hypertension. Brain oedema. Cerebral palsy; Limbic System - drug effects; Limbic System - physiology; Locomotion - drug effects; Locomotion - physiology; Male; Medical sciences; Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes); Neurology; Neuropharmacology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Status epilepticus; Status Epilepticus - drug therapy; Status Epilepticus - physiopathology; Sulfanilamide derivatives; Animal model; Nervous system diseases; Sulfonamide; Rat; Epilepsy; Rodentia; Anticonvulsant; Limbic system; Furosemide; Cerebral disorder; Encephalon; Vertebrata; Chemotherapy; Experimental disease; Mammalia; Treatment; Subintrant crisis; Animal; Central nervous system disease; Status epilepticus-Experimental epilepsy model-Freely moving rat-Furosemide
• ISSN: 0013-9580; 1528-1167
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1528-1157.2003.14003.x

Purpose: To evaluate the anticonvulsant properties of furosemide and to determine sedative side effects compared with pentobarbital and diuretic side effects compared with saline‐treated controls in an experimental model of limbic status epilepticus.
Methods: Self‐sustaining status epilepticus was induced in rats by continuous electrical stimulation of the perforant path. Five minutes after the end of the stimulation, animals were given 100 mg/kg furosemide, 30 mg/kg pentobarbital, or an equal amount of saline, intraperitoneally. After administration of the substance, animals were monitored clinically and electrographically for 3 h regarding status epilepticus, level of sedation, and diuresis.
Results: In seven of 10 animals, furosemide terminated status epilepticus after 68 ± 26 min, whereas pentobarbital was successful in all animals after 5 ± 0.8 min. In contrast to pentobarbital, sedation did not occur with furosemide. Weight loss after furosemide was 10.2 ± 1.7% compared with 6.5 ± 1.1% in animals given saline (p < 0.001).
Conclusions: The results suggest that furosemide may serve as an alternative or additional agent for refractory complex partial status epilepticus in patients in whom common anesthetics are not justifiable.