An alternative therapy for drug-resistant epilepsy: transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies demonstrated that vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is an effective therapy for drug-resistant epilepsy. Acupuncture is also used to treat epilepsy. This study was designed to examine the safety and effectiveness of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (ta-VNS) for patients with drug-resistant epilepsy.


METHODS
A total of 50 volunteer patients with drug-resistant epilepsy were selected for a random clinical trial to observe the therapeutic effect of ta-VNS. The seizure frequency, quality of life, and severity were assessed in weeks 8, 16, and 24 of the treatment according to the percentage of seizure frequency reduction.


RESULTS
In the pilot study, 47 of the 50 epilepsy patients completed the 24-week treatment; three dropped off. After 8-week treatment, six of the 47 patients (12%) were seizure free and 12 (24%) had a reduction in seizure frequency. In week 16 of the continuous treatment, six of the 47 patients (12%) were seizure free; 17 (34%) had a reduction in seizure frequency. After 24 weeks' treatment, eight patients (16%) were seizure free; 19 (38%) had reduced seizure frequency.


CONCLUSIONS
Similar to the therapeutic effect of VNS, ta-VNS can suppress epileptic seizures and is a safe, effective, economical, and widely applicable treatment option for drug-resistant epilepsy. (ChiCTR-TRC-10001023).
Function Laboratory, Institute of Acu-Mox, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
Peijing
P
Rong
Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China.
Aihua
A
Liu
Institute of Neurosurgery, Tiantan Hospital, Beijing 100050, China.
Jianguo
J
Zhang
Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China.
Yuping
Y
Wang
Institute of Neurosurgery, Tiantan Hospital, Beijing 100050, China.
Anchao
A
Yang
Function Laboratory, Institute of Acu-Mox, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
Liang
L
Li
Function Laboratory, Institute of Acu-Mox, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
Hui
H
Ben
Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China.
Liping
L
Li
Function Laboratory, Institute of Acu-Mox, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
Rupeng
R
Liu
Function Laboratory, Institute of Acu-Mox, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
Wei
W
He
Institute of Neurosurgery, Tiantan Hospital, Beijing 100050, China.
Huanguang
H
Liu
Function Laboratory, Institute of Acu-Mox, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
Feng
F
Huang
Function Laboratory, Institute of Acu-Mox, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
Xia
X
Li
Function Laboratory, Institute of Acu-Mox, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
Peng
P
Wu
Function Laboratory, Institute of Acu-Mox, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
Bing
B
Zhu
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055536:Vagus Nerve Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult