Background: Since one of the suggested mechanisms of action of VNS on epilepsy is the reduction of central inflammation, we carried out a comprehensive analysis of blood inflammatory markers in children considered for VNS surgery. Materials and methods: Five pediatric patients were studied. An extensive analysis of blood inflammatory markers was performed before surgery (T0) and six weeks after VNS implantation (T1). An epileptological outcome was obtained according to the McHugh score. Results: The variations of IgA, IgE, IgG, CD19, and PTX3 displayed a tendency toward a positive statistical correlation between T0 and T1. According to McHugh score, the patients were divided into Group 1 (i.e., Class I) and Group 2 (i.e., Classes II and III). IL-1 beta and PTX-3 tended to decrease more in Group 1, while TNF-alpha decreased in Group 2 (-56.65%) and slightly increased (+3.61%) in Group 1 at T1 without statistical correlation. Conclusions: The variation of IL-1 beta and PTX-3 seem to be related to a better outcome; thus, they do not reach statistical significance. A larger series of patients is needed to determine whether biochemical changes could relay with the clinical improvement of epilepsy.

Effect of Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Blood inflammatory markers in Children with drug-resistant Epilepsy: a pilot study

Valentina Baro;Maria Vittoria Bonavina;Luca Denaro;Andrea Landi
2022

Abstract

Background: Since one of the suggested mechanisms of action of VNS on epilepsy is the reduction of central inflammation, we carried out a comprehensive analysis of blood inflammatory markers in children considered for VNS surgery. Materials and methods: Five pediatric patients were studied. An extensive analysis of blood inflammatory markers was performed before surgery (T0) and six weeks after VNS implantation (T1). An epileptological outcome was obtained according to the McHugh score. Results: The variations of IgA, IgE, IgG, CD19, and PTX3 displayed a tendency toward a positive statistical correlation between T0 and T1. According to McHugh score, the patients were divided into Group 1 (i.e., Class I) and Group 2 (i.e., Classes II and III). IL-1 beta and PTX-3 tended to decrease more in Group 1, while TNF-alpha decreased in Group 2 (-56.65%) and slightly increased (+3.61%) in Group 1 at T1 without statistical correlation. Conclusions: The variation of IL-1 beta and PTX-3 seem to be related to a better outcome; thus, they do not reach statistical significance. A larger series of patients is needed to determine whether biochemical changes could relay with the clinical improvement of epilepsy.
2022
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
children-09-01133.pdf

accesso aperto

Tipologia: Published (publisher's version)
Licenza: Creative commons
Dimensione 256.7 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
256.7 kB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri
Pubblicazioni consigliate

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11577/3452899
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 2
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 2
  • OpenAlex ND
social impact