Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for the Treatment of Poorly Controlled Partial Epilepsy

Launched by NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE (NINDS) · Nov 3, 1999

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The purpose of this protocol is to study the effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) at 1 Hz on the excitability of the seizure focus in patients with poorly controlled epilepsy refractory to pharmacological treatments. 1 Hz TMS is a rate proven to induce long term depression in animal models and reported to decrease the excitability of both human and animal cerebral cortex.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• • Age 5 to 60 at entry to protocol.
• • History of partial or Complex Partial Epilepsy for two or more years.
• • Patients should be on a stable anti-convulsant regimen defined as unchanged medicines and dose modifications lower than 20% in the last month. Blood levels of anti-convulsants will be measured at the beginning of the study, prior to stimulation and after the study to assure that the type and dose of medication will remain constant.
• • Seizures not completely responsive to medical treatment (1 or more seizures per week for at least 6 months) and patients have failed at least two anti-convulsant regimens in the past.
• • The patients have a localized seizure focus.
• • Epilepsy refractory to medical treatments.
• • No pregnant women (will be tested with urine pregnancy test).
• • No severe coronary disease.
• • No metal anywhere in the cranium except the mouth.
• • No intracardiac lines.
• • No increased intracranial pressure as expressed by the presence of papilledema.
• • No cardiac pacemakers.
• • Must not be taking neuroleptic or antidepressant medications.
• • No progressive neurologic disease.