INTRODUCTION
post‐stroke epilepsy, Stroke, epilepsy, seizures, stroke, post‐stroke seizures, Epilepsy
STROKE, EPILEPSY, STROKE, SECONDARY, EPILEPSY
Epilepsy affects at least 50 million people globally and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality.Stroke accounts for up to 11% of all epilepsy cases and is the leading cause in the elderly population, responsible for approximately 50% of newly diagnosed epilepsy cases in those aged >60 years.Evidence for the use of ASMs in the primary and secondary prevention of post‐stroke epilepsy is currently limited. A recent Cochrane review identified two randomized double‐blind studies with a total of 856 patients, concluding that ASMs were not shown to be effective in the primary prophylaxis of post‐stroke seizures.Eslicarbazepine acetate (ESL) is a once‐daily ASM that is approved in Europe and the USA for the treatment of focal‐onset seizures as monotherapy or adjunctive therapy.Here we present an overview of an ongoing Phase II, multicenter, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study, designed to assess whether treatment with ESL for 1 month, starting within 120 hours after stroke occurrence, can prevent unprovoked seizures, compared to placebo treatment. We also discuss the challenges encountered in conducting antiepileptogenesis studies, particularly in patients at high risk of developing post‐stroke epilepsy.