Safety and feasibility of deep brain stimulation of the anterior cingulate and thalamus in chronic refractory neuropathic pain: a pilot and randomized study.

IF 7.3 1区医学 Q1 CLINICAL NEUROLOGY

Journal of Headache and Pain Pub Date : 2025-02-17 DOI:10.1186/s10194-025-01967-8

Denys Fontaine, Aurélie Leplus, Anne Donnet, Nelly Darmon, Anne Balossier, Bruno Giordana, Benoit Simonet, Petru Isan, Jean Regis, Michel Lanteri-Minet

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) of the anterior cingulum has been recently proposed to treat refractory chronic pain but its safety and its efficacy have not been evaluated in controlled conditions. Our objective was to evaluate the respective feasibility and safety of sensory thalamus (Thal-DBS) combined with anterior cingulate (ACC-DBS) DBS in patients suffering from chronic neuropathic pain.

Methods: We conducted a bicentric study (clinicaltrials.gov NCT03399942) in patients suffering from medically-refractory chronic unilateral neuropathic pain surgically implanted with both unilateral Thal-DBS and bilateral ACC-DBS, to evaluate successively: Thal-DBS only; combined Thal-DBS and ACC-DBS; ACC-DBS "on" and "off" stimulation periods in randomized cross-over double-blinded conditions; and a 1-year open phase. Safety and efficacy were evaluated by repeated neurological examination, psychiatric assessment, comprehensive assessment of cognitive and affective functioning. Changes on pain intensity (Visual Analogic Scale) and quality of life (EQ-5D scale) were used to evaluate DBS efficacy.

Results: All the patients (2 women, 6 men, mean age 52,1) completed the study. Adverse events were: epileptic seizure (2), transient motor or attention (2), persistent gait disturbances (1), sleep disturbances (1). No patient displayed significant cognitive or affective change. Compared to baseline, the quality of life (EQ-5D utility score) was significantly improved during the ACC-DBS "On" stimulation period (p = 0,039) and at the end of the study (p = 0,034).

Conclusion: This pilot study confirmed the safety of anterior cingulate DBS alone or in combination with thalamic stimulation and suggested that it might improve quality of life of patients with chronic refractory neuropathic pain.

Trial registration: The study has been registered on 20,180,117 (clinicaltrials.gov NCT03399942).

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来源期刊

Journal of Headache and Pain 医学-临床神经学

CiteScore

11.80

自引率

13.50%

发文量

143

审稿时长

6-12 weeks

期刊介绍： The Journal of Headache and Pain, a peer-reviewed open-access journal published under the BMC brand, a part of Springer Nature, is dedicated to researchers engaged in all facets of headache and related pain syndromes. It encompasses epidemiology, public health, basic science, translational medicine, clinical trials, and real-world data. With a multidisciplinary approach, The Journal of Headache and Pain addresses headache medicine and related pain syndromes across all medical disciplines. It particularly encourages submissions in clinical, translational, and basic science fields, focusing on pain management, genetics, neurology, and internal medicine. The journal publishes research articles, reviews, letters to the Editor, as well as consensus articles and guidelines, aimed at promoting best practices in managing patients with headaches and related pain.