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VNS Therapy for pharmacoresistant idiopathic generalised seizures

AUGUST 2004

The authors reviewed the data of 165 patients implanted with VNS Therapy between 1994 and 2000, and evaluated the reduction in seizure frequency as well as the change in AED regimen. They also studied VNS Therapy treatment for a longer period in 14 patients with idiopathic generalised epilepsy (IGE) and compared the results to those in 151 patients with partial epilepsy (PE) (n=138) and symptomatic generalised epilepsy (SGE) (n=13).

Responders were defined as having a seizure reduction of 50% or greater and a concurrent reduction in medication regimen. The mean age at the time of the study was 27.3 years. Average duration of VNS Therapy in the overall group was 21.6 months.

In the IGE group, 57.1% of the patients had a 50% or greater reduction in seizure frequency, 35.7% had a less than 50% reduction and one had an increase in seizure frequency. Of the 14 patients with IGE, 5 were responders as was defined in the study. These findings suggest that VNS Therapy is an effective therapy for some patients with medication-resistant IGE.

In the group of patients with generalised epilepsy, those with idiopathic disorders may have a better response to VNS Therapy than those with symptomatic forms. The group consisting of individuals with IGE had a larger proportion of responders than groups containing individuals with PE or SGE.