Zmieniające się podejście do zapalenia nerwów w epilepsji: analiza bibliometryczna od aktywacji mikroglejii do osi jelito-mózg
The Changing Paradigm of Neuroinflammation in Epilepsy: A Bibliometric Analysis from Microglial Activation to Gut-Brain Axis
W skrócie
Naukowcy przeanalizowali blisko 2000 artykułów naukowych z lat 2005-2026 dotyczących zapalenia w mózgu pacjentów z epilepsją. Odkryli, że badania ewoluują od skupienia się na mikroglei (komórkach mózgu) i cytokinach, ku badaniu związku między jelitami a mózgiem, a także diecie ketogennej jako sposobem na kontrolę napadu. Wyniki sugerują, że przyszłość leczy epilepsji, zwłaszcza opornej na leki, leży w lepszym zrozumieniu jak układ odpornościowy wpływa na mózg oraz w personalizowanej immunoterapii.
Oryginalny abstract (angielski)
BACKGROUND: Neuroinflammation has been increasingly implicated in epileptogenesis and drug-resistant epilepsy, leading to growing research interest beyond the traditional focus on neuronal hyperexcitability. Despite the rapid expansion of research in this interdisciplinary field, a comprehensive structural mapping of its intellectual evolution and emerging frontiers is lacking. METHODS: We performed a systematic bibliometric analysis of 1989 publications (2005-2026) retrieved from Web of Science Core Collection and Scopus. Analytical tools including CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and the Bibliometrix R package were employed to visualize collaboration networks, citation structures, and thematic transitions. The literature search was updated to include publications indexed up to January 4, 2026. RESULTS: Research output followed an exponential growth pattern (R=0.97), peaking in 2025. China and the USA dominated the global landscape, with and identified as core academic hubs. Highly cited works, led by pioneers such as Vezzani A and Aronica E, established a knowledge base centered on microglial activation and cytokine signaling. Keyword clustering identified several interconnected thematic domains. Long-standing topics included oxidative stress and hippocampal vulnerability, whereas recent citation bursts indicated increasing attention to autoimmune encephalitis, blood-brain barrier (BBB) dynamics, and the gut-brain axis. Furthermore, emerging trends highlight the ketogenic diet and network pharmacology as promising immunometabolic strategies for seizure control. CONCLUSION: This study provides the first systematic bibliometric landscape of neuroinflammation in epilepsy over the past two decades. Our findings suggest a gradual transition from studies of glial, cytokine, and vascular mechanisms toward translational interest in systemic immune-CNS interactions. These quantitative insights identify the gut-microbiota-inflammation axis and personalized immunotherapy as the next frontiers, offering a strategic roadmap for future disease-modifying interventions in refractory epilepsy.