title: Effects of vagus nerve stimulation in a patient with temporal lobe epilepsy and Asperger syndrome: case report and review of the literature.
abstract: Seizures are a common comorbidity of autism and occur in as many as 30% of patients. This case report describes a 23-year-old man diagnosed with both Asperger syndrome and bitemporal epilepsy. The patient had behavioral regression that correlated with worsening of his intractable seizures. He subsequently underwent implantation of a vagus nerve stimulation therapy device for his refractory epilepsy. Both his seizures and his behavior were monitored for 6 months. We describe the efficacy of vagus nerve stimulation therapy in reducing seizure severity as well as improving the behavioral components of his Asperger syndrome. We also review the current literature regarding epilepsy in autistic spectrum disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of California, San Francisco,University Medical Center, 445 South CedarAvenue, Fresno, CA 93702, USA. Twarwick@fresno.ucsf.edu
authors.forename: Tanya C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Warwick
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Griffith
authors.forename: Bernardo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Reyes
authors.forename: Benalfew
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Legesse
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Evans
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020817:Asperger Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D004351:Drug Resistance; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants