Transcranial direct current stimulation in refractory continuous spikes and waves during slow sleep: a controlled study

Edina T Varga; Daniella Terney; Mary D Atkins; Marina Nikanorova; Ditte S Jeppesen; Peter Uldall; Helle Hjalgrim; Sándor Beniczky

doi:10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2011.07.016

Transcranial direct current stimulation in refractory continuous spikes and waves during slow sleep: a controlled study

Epilepsy Res. 2011 Nov;97(1-2):142-5. doi: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2011.07.016. Epub 2011 Aug 31.

Authors

Edina T Varga¹, Daniella Terney, Mary D Atkins, Marina Nikanorova, Ditte S Jeppesen, Peter Uldall, Helle Hjalgrim, Sándor Beniczky

Affiliation

¹ Department of Neurophysiology, Danish Epilepsy Centre, Dianalund, Denmark.

PMID: 21885255
DOI: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2011.07.016

Abstract

Cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) decreases cortical excitability. The purpose of the study was to investigate whether cathodal tDCS could interrupt the continuous epileptiform activity. Five patients with focal, refractory continuous spikes and waves during slow sleep were recruited. Cathodal tDCS and sham stimulation were applied to the epileptic focus, before sleep (1 mA; 20 min). Cathodal tDCS did not reduce the spike-index in any of the patients.

Publication types

Controlled Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

Cerebral Cortex / physiopathology
Child
Cross-Over Studies
Electroencephalography
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Male
Sleep / physiology*
Status Epilepticus / diagnosis
Status Epilepticus / physiopathology*
Status Epilepticus / therapy*
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / methods*
Treatment Failure