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Autistic spectrum disorder, epilepsy, and vagus nerve stimulation

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Abstract

Purpose

In individuals with a comorbid autistic spectrum disorder and medically refractory epilepsy, vagus nerve stimulation may offer the potential of seizure control and a positive behavioral side effect profile. We aimed to examine the behavioral side effect profile using longitudinal and quantitative data and review the potential mechanisms behind behavioral changes.

Methods

We present a case report of a 10-year-old boy with autistic spectrum disorder and epilepsy, who underwent vagus nerve stimulation subsequent to unsuccessful treatment with antiepileptic medication.

Results

Following vagus nerve stimulation implantation, initial, if temporary, improvement was observed in seizure control. Modest improvements were also observed in behavior and development, improvements which were observed independent of seizure control.

Conclusions

Vagus nerve stimulation in autistic spectrum disorder is associated with modest behavioral improvement, with unidentified etiology, although several candidates for this improvement are evident.

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Acknowledgments

The authors declare no funding for this project. The authors report no conflict of interest.

Compliance with ethical standards

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. The study has been approved by the appropriate institutional research ethics committee. The study was part of a clinically instituted treatment protocol.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nebraska Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 982045, USA

    Mariam Mettry Hull & Deepak Madhavan

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Macau, Avenida da Universidade, E21-3053, FSS, Taipa, Macao, SAR, China

    Charles M. Zaroff

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  1. Mariam Mettry Hull
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  2. Deepak Madhavan
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Correspondence to Charles M. Zaroff.

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Hull, M.M., Madhavan, D. & Zaroff, C.M. Autistic spectrum disorder, epilepsy, and vagus nerve stimulation. Childs Nerv Syst 31, 1377–1385 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-015-2720-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-015-2720-8

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