Open Blood Brain Barrier - A Cause or an Outcome of Brain Pathologies?

Status epilepticus (SE) is often associated with endothelial dysfunction and increased vessels permeability.

The direct role of blood–brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction in epileptogenesis and brain damage is discussed in subse-quent paragraphs. On the cellular level, astrocytes are the early responders to the efflux of serum proteins in the presence of dysfunctional BBB. Astrocytic responses include the activation of the innate immune system and disturbed homeostasis of extracellular potassium and glutamate. These astrocytic changes, in turn, are associated with enhanced excitability of neurons and altered network connectivity.