Deep brain stimulation for drug-resistant epilepsy

Deep brain disease stimulation (DBS) is commonly used to treat movement disorders such as Parkinson disease, and current evidence suggests that DBS may also be useful for refractory epilepsy and is affected by a variety of factors. Studies show that stimulation of the anterior nucleus of the thalamus and hippocampus may decrease the frequency of refractory seizures. The efficacy of stimulating other targets remains inconclusive. An absence of structural abnormality on imaging and electrode position are associated with stimulation efficacy. Certain seizure types may respond more favorably to specific targets. There are several factors that potentially predict seizure outcome following DBS, but more large-scale clinical trials are needed. Key words: Stimulation; Intractable epilepsy; Efficacy; Predictor; Safety