Abstract
The potential therapeutic role of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)
in epilepsy has been increasingly recognized. We investigated the effects of low-frequency
rTMS in a patient with epilepsia partialis continua (EPC) due to cortical dysplasia.
A 31-year-old female patient experienced EPC in the right upper and lower extremities,
which had lasted for 15 years without generalized seizures. MRI showed focal megaencephaly
around the motor cortex suggestive of cortical dysplasia. A figure of eight magnetic
coil was placed over the hand motor area, and 100 stimuli with an intensity at 90%
of motor threshold were given at 0.5 Hz. Immediately after rTMS, EPC was nearly abolished.
The effects had continued approximately for 2 months, and the second trial resulted
in the similar effects and time-course. Low-frequency rTMS was safe and well tolerated
in this patient. These findings support the concept that rTMS decreases cortical excitability,
and may be an effective treatment for focal partial seizures.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
March 8,
2005
Received in revised form:
December 3,
2004
Received:
October 5,
2004
Identification
Copyright
© 2005 Elsevier B.V. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
