title: Low-frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation for epilepsia partialis continua due to cortical dysplasia.
abstract: The potential therapeutic role of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in epilepsy has been increasingly recognized. We investigated the effects of low-frequency rTMS in a patient with epilepsia partialis continua (EPC) due to cortical dysplasia. A 31-year-old female patient experienced EPC in the right upper and lower extremities, which had lasted for 15 years without generalized seizures. MRI showed focal megaencephaly around the motor cortex suggestive of cortical dysplasia. A figure of eight magnetic coil was placed over the hand motor area, and 100 stimuli with an intensity at 90% of motor threshold were given at 0.5 Hz. Immediately after rTMS, EPC was nearly abolished. The effects had continued approximately for 2 months, and the second trial resulted in the similar effects and time-course. Low-frequency rTMS was safe and well tolerated in this patient. These findings support the concept that rTMS decreases cortical excitability, and may be an effective treatment for focal partial seizures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Chiba University School of Medicine, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan. sonoko.m@mb.infoweb.ne.jp
authors.forename: Sonoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Misawa
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kuwabara
authors.forename: Kazumoto
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shibuya
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mamada
authors.forename: Takamichi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hattori
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000150:complications; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods; D017036:Epilepsia Partialis Continua / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; D016896:Treatment Outcome