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Safety study of high-frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation in patients with chronic stroke
M P Lomarev1, D Y Kim, S Pirio Richardson
1Human Motor Control Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, NIH Building 10, Room 5N240, 10 Center Dr MSC 1428, Bethesda, MD 20892-1428, USA. lomarevm@ninds.nih.gov
Objective:
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a potential therapeutic tool to rehabilitate chronic stroke patients. In this study, the safety of high-frequency rTMS in stroke was investigated (Phase I).
Methods:
The safety of 20 and 25 Hz rTMS over the motor cortex (MC) of the affected hemisphere, with intensities of 110-130% of the motor threshold (MT), was evaluated using surface electromyography (EMG) of hand and arm muscles.
Results:
Brief EMG bursts, possibly representing peripheral manifestations of after discharges, and spread of excitation to proximal muscles are considered to be associated with a high risk of seizure occurrence. These events were recorded after the rTMS trains. Neither increased MC excitability nor improved pinch force dynamometry was found after rTMS.
Conclusions:
Stimulation parameters for rTMS, which are safe for healthy volunteers, may lead to a higher risk for seizure occurrence in chronic stroke patients.
Significance:
rTMS at rates of 20 and 25 Hz using above threshold stimulation potentially increases the risk of seizures in patients with chronic stroke.
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