Deep brain stimulation shows promise for epilepsy--study

DBS is a surgical procedure that involves implantation of tiny electrodes in the brain that send electrical pulses to specific portions of the brain, aimed to reduce the frequency of epileptic seizures.

Simon Wigglesworth, deputy chief executive at UK charity Epilepsy Action, said, "We have been hopeful for some time that deep brain stimulation may be a treatment option for some people with epilepsy.

"This study is exciting news and could be an important development in the treatment of epilepsy in the 30% of people whose seizures don't respond to traditional drug therapies."

A clinical trial of 110 epileptic patients
Researchers from Stanford University conducted a clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of electric stimulation for epilepsy treatment.

They enrolled 110 men and women aged 18 to 65 years who experienced epileptic seizures at least six times a month and did not respond to antiepileptic drugs.

After three months of standard medical therapy, the researchers implanted electrodes in all the patients. In the first phase of the trial only half were administered DBS for three months.

The investigators noted that the patients in the DBS group exhibited a 40 percent reduction in seizures as opposed 15 percent in the control group.

Moreover, the severity of the seizures was less in the stimulation group.

Outcome of the second phase of the trial
In the second phase, all the patients received electronic impulses and were monitored for a period of about two years.

At the close of the study, 56 percent of the participants experienced a decline in seizure frequency while 54 percent exhibited a reduction of seizures by 50 percent.

Additionally, 14 patients were free from seizures for at least six months. Five deaths were reported but the fatalities were not related to the device.

The only significant negative effects in the stimulated group were depression and memory lapses.

Lead researcher, Dr Robert Fisher, director of the epilepsy center at Stanford University stated, "Electrical deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a promising therapy for epilepsy.

"While our study did not produce serious complications, DBS therapy is invasive and serious complications can occur."

The study was supported by Medtronic (the manufacturers of the device) and a National Institutes of Health.

The research is published online in the journal Epilepsia.