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Published on: June 7, 2016
Effectiveness of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Treating Drug-Resistant Focal Epilepsy: A Systematic
Luis A Marin-Castañeda1, Jimena Gonzalez-Salido2, Iris E Martínez-Juárez2,3,4
1Department of Neurophysiology, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery "Manuel Velasco Suarez", Mexico City, Mexico, luismarinlamc@gmail.com.
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) effectively reduces seizure frequency in drug-resistant focal epilepsy patients. This neuromodulation therapy shows promise with minimal side effects, though its impact on interictal epileptiform discharges requires further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuroscience
- Medical Devices
Background:
- Epilepsy affects millions globally, with a significant portion experiencing drug-resistant seizures.
- Current treatments for drug-resistant epilepsy are often insufficient, necessitating novel therapeutic approaches.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) as a treatment for drug-resistant focal epilepsy.
- To assess tDCS's impact on seizure frequency, interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs), and adverse events.
Main Methods:
- A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) adhering to PRISMA guidelines.
- Searches conducted across MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library up to June 2024.
- Data synthesis using a random-effects model, with quality assessment via RoB2.
Main Results:
- Nine RCTs with 253 patients demonstrated tDCS significantly reduced seizure frequency at 1 and 2 months post-treatment compared to placebo (p=0.05 and p=0.02, respectively).
- No significant effect of tDCS on interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) was observed.
- Adverse events associated with tDCS were predominantly mild, including itching, skin rash, and headache.
Conclusions:
- tDCS is a promising noninvasive neuromodulation technique for reducing seizure frequency in drug-resistant focal epilepsy.
- While generally safe with mild side effects, tDCS did not significantly impact IEDs.
- Considerable heterogeneity among studies highlights the need for standardized research to optimize tDCS protocols for epilepsy treatment.
