Observations on the Use of Vagus Nerve Stimulation Earlier in the Course of Pharmacoresistant Epilepsy: Patients With Seizures for Six Years or Less

BACKGROUND–This study retrospectively compared the effectiveness of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) therapy among a constant cohort of patients in the patient outcome registry, which systematically monitors outcomes of patients receiving VNS therapy. Patients in the study had pharmacoresistant seizures for 6 years or less (early treatment group) or more than 6 years (late treatment group) before initiation of VNS therapy, and results are provided after both 3 and 12 months. REVIEW SUMMARY–Of 405 patients, 51 were in the early and 354 in the late treatment groups. Median age at onset of seizures was 7 years in the early and 4.5 years in the late treatment group. Seizure reduction of 100% was reported in 7.8% (early) and 3.7% (late) patients at 3 months and 11.8% (early) and 4.5% (late) at 12 months (P = 0.033). Reductions in seizure frequency greater than or equal to 90% for early and late treatment groups were similar11.8% (early) and 11.0% (late) at 3 months and 23.5% (early) and 17.0% (late) at 12 months. CONCLUSIONS–Patients treated earlier with VNS therapy were twice as likely to report no seizures as patients who had seizures for more than 6 years before they received VNS therapy. The effectiveness of VNS therapy should be assessed among other patients with pharmacoresistant seizures and lesser cumulative seizure loads.