Frontiers in Neurology (Nov 2016)

Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation: A potential risk for genetic generalized epilepsy patients (Study Case)

  • Daniel San Juan Orta,
  • Carlos Ignacio Sarmiento,
  • Carlos Ignacio Sarmiento,
  • Axel Hernandez-Ruiz,
  • Axel Hernandez-Ruiz,
  • Ernesto Elizondo-Zepeda,
  • Gabriel Santos-Vázquez,
  • Gerardo Reyes-Acevedo,
  • Héctor Zúñiga-Gazcón,
  • Carol Marina Zamora-Jarquín,
  • Carol Marina Zamora-Jarquín

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2016.00213
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7

Abstract

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Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) is a re-emergent neuromodulation technique that consists in the external application of oscillating electrical currents that induces changes in cortical excitability. We present the case of a 16-year-old female with pharmaco-resistant juvenile myoclonic epilepsy to three antiepileptic’s drugs characterized by four myoclonic and 20 absence seizures monthly. She received tACS at 1mA@3Hz pulse train during 60 minutes over Fp1-Fp2 (10-20 EEG international system position) during 4 consecutive days using an Endeavor™ IOM Systems device® (Natus Medical Incorporated, Middleton, WI, USA). At the one-month follow-up, she reported a 75% increase in seizures frequency (only myoclonic and tonic-clonic events) and developed a 24h myoclonic status epilepticus that resolved with oral clonazepam and intravenous valproate. At the two-month follow-up, the patient reported a 15-day seizure-free period.

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