Volume 146, Issue 6 pp. 786-797
REVIEW ARTICLE

Neuromodulation in drug-resistant epilepsy: A review of current knowledge

Tao Xue

Tao Xue

Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China

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Shujun Chen

Shujun Chen

Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China

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Yutong Bai

Yutong Bai

Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China

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Chunlei Han

Chunlei Han

Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China

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Anchao Yang

Corresponding Author

Anchao Yang

Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China

Correspondence

Jianguo Zhang and Anchao Yang, Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital, Medical University, No. 119 South 4th Ring West Road, Fengtai District, 100070, Beijing, China.

Emails: [email protected]; [email protected]

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Jianguo Zhang

Corresponding Author

Jianguo Zhang

Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China

Correspondence

Jianguo Zhang and Anchao Yang, Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital, Medical University, No. 119 South 4th Ring West Road, Fengtai District, 100070, Beijing, China.

Emails: [email protected]; [email protected]

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First published: 05 September 2022
Citations: 24

Tao Xue and Shujun Chen contributed equally to this work.

Abstract

Nearly 1% of the global population suffers from epilepsy. Drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) affects one-third of epileptic patients who are unable to treat their condition with existing drugs. For the treatment of DRE, neuromodulation offers a lot of potential. The background, mechanism, indication, application, efficacy, and safety of each technique are briefly described in this narrative review, with an emphasis on three approved neuromodulation therapies: vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), deep brain stimulation of the anterior nucleus of the thalamus (ANT-DBS), and closed-loop responsive neurostimulation (RNS). Neuromodulatory approaches involving direct or induced electrical currents have been developed to lessen seizure frequency and duration in patients with DRE since the notion of electrical stimulation as a therapy for neurologic diseases originated in the early nineteenth century. Although few people have attained total seizure independence for more than 12 months using these treatments, more than half have benefitted from a 50% drop in seizure frequency over time. Although promising outcomes in adults and children with DRE have been achieved, challenges such as heterogeneity among epilepsy types and etiologies, optimization of stimulation parameters, a lack of biomarkers to predict response to neuromodulation therapies, high-level evidence to aid decision-making, and direct comparisons between neuromodulatory approaches remain. To solve these existing gaps, authorize new kinds of neuromodulation, and develop personalized closed-loop treatments, further research is needed. Finally, both invasive and non-invasive neuromodulation seems to be safe. Implantation-related adverse events for invasive stimulation primarily include infection and pain at the implant site. Intracranial hemorrhage is a frequent adverse event for DBS and RNS. Other stimulation-specific side-effects are mild with non-invasive stimulation.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

Not applicable.

PEER REVIEW

RESPONSE TO PEER REVIEW TRANSPARENCY OPTION (reviewer reports, author responses, and decision letter linked from Publons): Yes

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