Left cervical vagal nerve stimulation reduces skin sympathetic nerve activity in patients with drug resistant epilepsy.

ABSTRACT:

Background

We recently reported that skin sympathetic nerve activity (SKNA) can be used to estimate sympathetic tone in humans. In animal models, vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) can damage the stellate ganglion, reduce stellate ganglion nerve activity, and suppress cardiac arrhythmia. Whether VNS can suppress sympathetic tone in humans remains unclear.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that VNS suppresses SKNA in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy.

Methods

ECG patch electrodes were used to continuously record SKNA in 26 patients with drug-resistant epilepsy who were admitted for video electroencephalographic monitoring. Among them, 6 (2 men, age 40 ± 11 years) were previously treated with VNS and 20 (7 men, age 37 ± 8 years) were not. The

SUBMITTER: Yuan Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5712260 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature