OBJECTIVE To describe the subunit composition of glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors in brain tissue from patients with different types of status epilepticus. METHODS The subunit composition of glutamate and GABA receptors was analyzed in: (1) surgical brain samples from three patients with refractory convulsive status epilepticus, three patients with electrical status epilepticus in sleep, and six patients with refractory epilepsy, and (2) brain autopsy samples from four controls who died without neurological disorders. Subunit expression was quantified with Western blotting and messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression was quantified with reverse polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS Western blot analysis demonstrated the following patterns (as compared to controls): (1) alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors: elevated GluA1/GluA2 ratio in electrical status epilepticus in sleep (465%±119) and refractory epilepsy (329%±125; p<0.01); (2) N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors: increased GluN2B/GluN2A ratio in electrical status epilepticus in sleep (3682%±1000) and refractory convulsive status epilepticus (3520%±751; p<0.05); (3) GABA receptors: elevated α2/α1 ratio in refractory epilepsy (321%±138; p<0.05) and refractory convulsive status epilepticus (346%±74; p<0.05); and (4) patients with underlying malformation of cortical development had increased ratios in GluA1/GluA2 (382%±149; p<0.01), GluN2B/GluN2A (3321%±1581; p<0.05) and α2/α1 (303%±86; p<0.01). Quantification of mRNA demonstrated an elevated GABRA2/GABRA1 ratio in refractory epilepsy (712; p<0.05) as compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS The subunit composition of glutamate and GABA receptors in patients with status epilepticus mirrors that found in animal models of refractory status epilepticus and may promote self-sustaining seizures. Receptor subunit changes may provide additional targets for improved treatment.