Die Tiefe Hirnstimulation bei medikamentös therapieschwieriger Epilepsie

The SANTE (Stimulation of Anterior Nucleus of Thalamus for Epilepsy) trial (7) demonstrated that the stimulation of the anterior nucleus of the thalamus (ANT) decreases the frequency of refractory epileptic seizures. A significant reduction of epileptic seizures can also be achieved with electrical stimulation of the Hippocampus (8,10,16,19,32). The hippocampus as a target and other DBS targets are not in clinical use in Germany. The benefits shown in the SANTE trial could not be reproduced to its full extent after a 7-year use in Germany. We discuss several factors that are possibly related to the varying efficacy of deep brain stimulation and the actual role of this therapy for drug-resistant epilepsy.