Convulsions

Convulsions are clinical symptoms defined by sudden, involuntary, and paroxysmal contractions of the skeletal muscles, often resulting from abnormal and excessive electrical activity in the brain [1][2]. While the term is frequently used synonymously with 'seizures,' convulsions specifically denote the motoric phase of a seizure event, which can be tonic, clonic, or tonic-clonic in nature [1]. Because convulsions represent a physiological state or clinical phenotype rather than a specific protein or molecular entity, they are not considered a therapeutic target in the traditional pharmacological sense; instead, they serve as the clinical indication for anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) [3]. These drugs act on various molecular targets, such as the Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system or voltage-gated ion channels, to restore the balance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission [4]. Etiologies for convulsions are diverse, ranging from chronic conditions like epilepsy to acute triggers such as high fever, metabolic imbalances, or neurovascular insults [2]. Citations: [1] StatPearls: Seizure (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430765/); [2] Mayo Clinic: Seizures (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seizure/symptoms-causes/syc-20365711); [3] Epilepsy Foundation: What is a Seizure? (https://www.epilepsy.com/what-is-epilepsy/understanding-seizures); [4] NIH: Epilepsy and Seizures (https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/epilepsy-and-seizures).

Other names

SeizuresTonic-clonic movementsFitsParoxysmsEpileptic fitsSpasms

Convulsions are clinical manifestations rather than molecular targets; however, medications treat them by modulating targets such as GABA-A receptors (potentiation), voltage-gated sodium channels (blockade), or SV2A proteins (binding) to stabilize neuronal membranes and inhibit excessive firing [1][3].