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Quality-of-life benefits have been shown to improve
for patients using VNS Therapy. Recent publications have demonstrated
evidence of quality-of-life benefits in alertness, daytime sleepiness,
mood, and memory.1,2,3
Another quality-of-life benefit of VNS Therapy is its potential
to reduce the number or dosage of medications patients required
to control seizures. A study by Labar demonstrated that when VNS
Therapy was added to an existing AED regimen, some patients were
subsequently able to decrease the number and/or dose of AEDs they
were previously taking.4 These findings suggest that patients who
respond well to VNS Therapy may be able to reduce the number or
dosage of medications they were taking previously.
The hand-held magnet offers patients and their families a level
of control that confers beneficial effect on quality of life.5 Patients
and caregivers use the magnet to manage side effects as needed.6 The magnet can be used in some patients to abort or reduce the severity
of seizures, and improve the postictal period.7
Mood improvements have been associated with the use of VNS Therapy.
A study by Harden et al determined that quantifiable mood changes
occurred in pharmacoresistant patients treated with VNS Therapy.2 VNS patients completed mood assessments at baseline and 3 months
using 4 standard mood scales. Similar measures were conducted with
a control group of patients receiving only AEDs. For the dysthymic
patients, 4 of 9 on VNS Therapy moved into the nondysthymic range,
whereas only 1 of 12 AED patients moved into the nondysthymic range.
Overall, the VNS-treated group showed significant decrease in mood
scale scores over time, indicating a reduction in depressive symptoms.
This is an important finding because of the strong association between
epilepsy and depression and evidence of interdependent causality
between the disorders.
Quality-of-life benefits of VNS Therapy have also
been reported in the VNS Therapy Patient Outcome Registry. More
than 50% of Registry patients rated alertness and postictal period
as better or much better with VNS Therapy. Quality-of-life benefits
also were observed in other areas, including seizure clusters, verbal
skills, mood, achievements, and memory. Less than 7% of Registry
patients reported any single measure as worse or much worse.8
1Malow BA, et al. Neurology.
2001;57:879-884.
2Harden CL, et al. Epilepsy Behav. 2000;1:93-99.
3Clark KB, et al. Nature Neurosci. 1999;2:94-98.
4Labar DR. Neurology. 2002;59(suppl 4):S38-S43.
5Boon P, et al. J Clin Neurophys. 2001;18:402-407.
6Schachter SC, Saper CB. Epilepsia. 1998;39:677-686.
7Fromes GW, et al. Epilepsia. 2000;41(suppl
7):117.
8Data on file, April 2003, Cyberonics, Inc
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