Early Use of VNS More Effective
A study presented to the 54th annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) in Denver, Colorado shows that Vagus Nerve Stimulation Therapy™ (VNS Therapy) offers a higher success rate in achieving seizure control among people with drug-resistant epilepsy when used earlier in the course of their condition.
The study found that VNS Therapy was more effective when used within 5 years of seizure onset or after trials of 4 or fewer anti-seizure medications (AEDs). "Many patients have had epilepsy for well over 5 years before being treated with VNS Therapy, even if medications have been unsuccessful in controlling their seizures," said study investigator James Wheless, MD, director of the Texas Comprehensive Epilepsy Program at University of Texas Medical School at Houston. "This study demonstrates that people with epilepsy shouldn't wait through years of failed drug therapies and associated side effects before trying VNS Therapy — the therapy works better when used earlier in the treatment course."
This study prospectively followed a group of 120 VNS Therapy patients who had been diagnosed with epilepsy less than 5 years before implantation or who had tried 4 or fewer AEDs to determine if using VNS Therapy earlier in the treatment course improves efficacy. The control group was identified retrospectively from the VNS patient outcome registry and was composed of VNS Therapy patients who were implanted more than 5 years after diagnosis.
Preliminary results showed that after 3 months of treatment with VNS Therapy, 15% of the study participants reported no seizures, a three-fold statistically significant improvement over the control group. Additionally, and equally as important, patients' quality of life after 3 months of VNS Therapy was "better" or "much better" based on several quality of life indicators, including seizure recovery period (postictal state), alertness, mood, verbal communications, memory, and achievement at work or school.
"Side effects from AEDs, including weight gain or loss, fatigue, drowsiness and memory problems, often have a serious impact on a patient's quality of life, especially if the patient is taking more than one medication," said James B Renfroe, MD, paediatric neurologist at the Child Neurology Center of Northwest Florida. "VNS Therapy is one treatment option [which] frees a patient from these life-altering side effects, while at the same time controlling their seizures."
Sources
American Academy of Neurology
http://aan.com
Cyberonics, Inc.
http://www.cyberonics.com
