Hydrocephalus: historical analysis and considerations for treatment
Abstract Hydrocephalus is a serious condition that affects patients of all ages, resulting from a multitude of causes. While the etiologies of hydrocephalus are numerous, many of the acute and chronic symptoms of the condition are shared. These symptoms include disorientation and pain (headaches), c...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2022-09-01
|
| Series: | European Journal of Medical Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-022-00798-6 |
| _version_ | 1798004464081174528 |
|---|---|
| author | Alexandra Hochstetler Jeffrey Raskin Bonnie L. Blazer-Yost |
| author_facet | Alexandra Hochstetler Jeffrey Raskin Bonnie L. Blazer-Yost |
| author_sort | Alexandra Hochstetler |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Hydrocephalus is a serious condition that affects patients of all ages, resulting from a multitude of causes. While the etiologies of hydrocephalus are numerous, many of the acute and chronic symptoms of the condition are shared. These symptoms include disorientation and pain (headaches), cognitive and developmental changes, vision and sleep disturbances, and gait abnormalities. This collective group of symptoms combined with the effectiveness of CSF diversion as a surgical intervention for many types of the condition suggest that the various etiologies may share common cellular and molecular dysfunctions. The incidence rate of pediatric hydrocephalus is approximately 0.1–0.6% of live births, making it as common as Down syndrome in infants. Diagnosis and treatment of various forms of adult hydrocephalus remain understudied and underreported. Surgical interventions to treat hydrocephalus, though lifesaving, have a high incidence of failure. Previously tested pharmacotherapies for the treatment of hydrocephalus have resulted in net zero or negative outcomes for patients potentially due to the lack of understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms that contribute to the development of hydrocephalus. Very few well-validated drug targets have been proposed for therapy; most of these have been within the last 5 years. Within the last 50 years, there have been only incremental improvements in surgical treatments for hydrocephalus, and there has been little progress made towards prevention or cure. This demonstrates the need to develop nonsurgical interventions for the treatment of hydrocephalus regardless of etiology. The development of new treatment paradigms relies heavily on investment in researching the common molecular mechanisms that contribute to all of the forms of hydrocephalus, and requires the concerted support of patient advocacy organizations, government- and private-funded research, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, the medical device industry, and the vast network of healthcare professionals. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T12:24:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-deea2bb978f24e9fadc6f0a3bc3cbedd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2047-783X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T12:24:10Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Journal of Medical Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-deea2bb978f24e9fadc6f0a3bc3cbedd2022-12-22T04:24:01ZengBMCEuropean Journal of Medical Research2047-783X2022-09-0127111710.1186/s40001-022-00798-6Hydrocephalus: historical analysis and considerations for treatmentAlexandra Hochstetler0Jeffrey Raskin1Bonnie L. Blazer-Yost2Department of Biology, Indiana University Purdue University IndianapolisDivision of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s HospitalDepartment of Biology, Indiana University Purdue University IndianapolisAbstract Hydrocephalus is a serious condition that affects patients of all ages, resulting from a multitude of causes. While the etiologies of hydrocephalus are numerous, many of the acute and chronic symptoms of the condition are shared. These symptoms include disorientation and pain (headaches), cognitive and developmental changes, vision and sleep disturbances, and gait abnormalities. This collective group of symptoms combined with the effectiveness of CSF diversion as a surgical intervention for many types of the condition suggest that the various etiologies may share common cellular and molecular dysfunctions. The incidence rate of pediatric hydrocephalus is approximately 0.1–0.6% of live births, making it as common as Down syndrome in infants. Diagnosis and treatment of various forms of adult hydrocephalus remain understudied and underreported. Surgical interventions to treat hydrocephalus, though lifesaving, have a high incidence of failure. Previously tested pharmacotherapies for the treatment of hydrocephalus have resulted in net zero or negative outcomes for patients potentially due to the lack of understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms that contribute to the development of hydrocephalus. Very few well-validated drug targets have been proposed for therapy; most of these have been within the last 5 years. Within the last 50 years, there have been only incremental improvements in surgical treatments for hydrocephalus, and there has been little progress made towards prevention or cure. This demonstrates the need to develop nonsurgical interventions for the treatment of hydrocephalus regardless of etiology. The development of new treatment paradigms relies heavily on investment in researching the common molecular mechanisms that contribute to all of the forms of hydrocephalus, and requires the concerted support of patient advocacy organizations, government- and private-funded research, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, the medical device industry, and the vast network of healthcare professionals.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-022-00798-6HydrocephalusCerebrospinal fluidDrug developmentPathophysiologyPreclinical researchMechanisms |
| spellingShingle | Alexandra Hochstetler Jeffrey Raskin Bonnie L. Blazer-Yost Hydrocephalus: historical analysis and considerations for treatment European Journal of Medical Research Hydrocephalus Cerebrospinal fluid Drug development Pathophysiology Preclinical research Mechanisms |
| title | Hydrocephalus: historical analysis and considerations for treatment |
| title_full | Hydrocephalus: historical analysis and considerations for treatment |
| title_fullStr | Hydrocephalus: historical analysis and considerations for treatment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hydrocephalus: historical analysis and considerations for treatment |
| title_short | Hydrocephalus: historical analysis and considerations for treatment |
| title_sort | hydrocephalus historical analysis and considerations for treatment |
| topic | Hydrocephalus Cerebrospinal fluid Drug development Pathophysiology Preclinical research Mechanisms |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-022-00798-6 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT alexandrahochstetler hydrocephalushistoricalanalysisandconsiderationsfortreatment AT jeffreyraskin hydrocephalushistoricalanalysisandconsiderationsfortreatment AT bonnielblazeryost hydrocephalushistoricalanalysisandconsiderationsfortreatment |