Intractability in Epilepsy

What is it about?

Intractable epilepsy constitutes nearly one third of all patients diagnosed with epilepsy and fails to respond satisfactorily to antiepileptic medication warranting intervention of alternative therapeutic techniques like vagal nerve and deep brain stimulations. Both, alertness and naturally occurring rapid eye movement sleep are known to exert antiepileptic influence in humans, the common linkage factor between the two being EEG-desynchronization (documented to possess potent antiepileptic effect). Similarly, a major mechanism of the antiepileptic effect of the well established vagal nerve stimulation has also been found to be EEG-desynchronization. By analogy, in the author’s opinion, deep brain stimulation in intractable epilepsy programmed to induce EEG-desynchronization can effectively control intractable seizures. Thus, intractable epilepsy can be effectively controlled by procedures and/or techniques that can induce EEG-desynchronization.

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Why is it important?

As mentioned, intractable epilepsy constitutes nearly one third of all patients diagnosed with epilepsy; the prevalence of epilepsy itself is about one percent in the general population. The quality of life of patients with epilepsy, more so with intractable epilepsy is miserable. For centuries, it has been an endeavor of neuroscientists to alleviate the sufferings of such patients. This article is aimed at this purpose.