Neurological Research and Practice (Sep 2019)

Evaluation of a programming algorithm for deep brain stimulation in dystonia used in a double-blind, sham-controlled multicenter study

  • Frank Steigerwald,
  • Anna Dalal Kirsch,
  • Andrea A. Kühn,
  • Andreas Kupsch,
  • Joerg Mueller,
  • Wilhelm Eisner,
  • Günther Deuschl,
  • Daniela Falk,
  • Alfons Schnitzler,
  • Inger Marie Skogseid,
  • Juliane Vollmer-Haase,
  • Chi W. Ip,
  • Volker Tronnier,
  • Jan Vesper,
  • Markus Naumann,
  • Jens Volkmann,
  • for the DBS study group for dystonia

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s42466-019-0032-2
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 1, no. 1
pp. 1 – 6

Abstract

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Abstract Background Programming deep brain stimulation in dystonia is difficult because of the delayed benefits and absence of evidence-based guidelines. Therefore, we evaluated the efficacy of a programming algorithm applied in a double-blind, sham-controlled multicenter study of pallidal deep brain stimulation in dystonia. Methods A standardized monopolar review to identify the contact with the best acute antidystonic effect was applied in 40 patients, who were then programmed 0.5 V below the adverse effect threshold and maintained on these settings for at least 3 months, if tolerated. If no acute effects were observed, contact selection was based on adverse effects or anatomical criteria. Three-year follow-up data was available for 31 patients, and five-year data for 32 patients. The efficacy of the algorithm was based on changes in motor scores, adverse events, and the need for reprogramming. Results The mean (±standard deviation) dystonia motor score decreased by 73 ± 24% at 3 years and 63 ± 38% at 5 years for contacts that exhibited acute improvement of dystonia (n = 17) during the monopolar review. Contacts without acute benefit improved by 58 ± 30% at 3 years (n = 63) and 53 ± 31% at 5 years (n = 59). Interestingly, acute worsening or induction of dystonia/dyskinesia (n = 9) correlated significantly with improvement after 3 years, but not 5 years. Conclusions Monopolar review helped to detect the best therapeutic contact in approximately 30% of patients exhibiting acute modulation of dystonic symptoms. Acute improvement, as well as worsening of dystonia, predicted a good long-term outcome, while induction of phosphenes did not correlate with outcome. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00142259.

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