Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation decreases the number of seizures in patients with focal neocortical epilepsy

Abstract

We conclude that 2 weeks of rTMS at 0.5Hz with a figure-of-eight coil placed over the epileptic focus, determined with VARETA, decreases the number of seizures in patients with focal epilepsy, without reduction in IEDs.

New Perspectives in Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation: Epilepsy, Consciousness and the Perturbational Approach

“…Another limitation is the shallow penetration effect of the induced electromagnetic field that stimulates only the superficial cortical layers, but is unable to affect the functioning and discharge of deep subcortical studies. This consideration may explain the better results observed in patients with neocortical foci [112], and the overall better results of other brain stimulation techniques. A recently concluded multicenter, double-blind, randomized trial [113] showed over a 3-year follow-up a 56% reduction in seizures in patients with medically refractory partial or secondary generalized seizures implanted with electrodes stimulationing the anterior nucleus of thalamus.…”

“…In epilepsy, it is the inhibitory effect of low (< 1 Hz) rTMS that is most widely used to suppress seizures, with encouraging results in open-label trials [104][105][106]. Yet, results from placebo-controlled trials are mixed, with one trial demonstrating a reduction in seizures and improvement of (off-line) EEG [107], and two others showing insignificant clinical improvement, or improvement of the EEG without a significant reduction in seizures [108][109][110].…”

The Clinical Application of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in the Study of Epilepsy

“…This effect lasted at least 2 months. Santiago-Rodriguez et al (Santiago-Rodriguez et al,2008) evaluated the number of seizures and interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) in 12 patients with focal neocortical epilepsy before, during and after rTMS. rTMS was administered with 900 pulses at 0.5 Hz for 2 consecutive weeks at 120% rMT.…”

Possible new avenues in epilepsy treatment: the stimulation techniques deep brain stimulation, vagal nerve stimulation, transcranial magnetic stimulation

“…Several case reports and open-label studies have reported beneficial, some even long-lasting, reductions of seizures and/or epileptic seizures [70][71][72] or complete arrest of seizure signs in a patient with epilepsia partialis continua [73]. Other studies failed to demonstrate significant effects on seizure frequencies [74].…”