Pilot study of trigeminal nerve stimulation (TNS) for epilepsy: a proof-of-concept trial.
The safety and preliminary efficacy of trigeminal nerve stimulation (TNS) for epilepsy was evaluated in a pilot feasibility study of transcutaneous stimulation of the infraorbital and supraorbital branches of the trigeminal nerve. TNS was well tolerated. Four (57%) of seven subjects who completed >or=3 months experienced a >or=50% reduction in seizure frequency. The results of this pilot study support further investigation into the safety and efficacy of TNS for epilepsy.
DeGiorgio
Christopher M
CM
UCLA Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA,Los Angeles, CA, USA. cmd@mednet.ucla.edu
Shewmon
Alan
A
Murray
Diane
D
Whitehurst
Todd
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D005145:Face / Q000294:innervation; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008499:Medical Records / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014276:Trigeminal Nerve / Q000502:physiology*
D000927:Anticonvulsants