World Brain Congress

Background: Most epilepsy treatments are associated with low bone mineral density (BMD) and increased risk of bone fracture. Recent studies have demonstrated that cholinergic activity has an anabolic effect on bone metabolism. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a promising treatment of epilepsy that, as a side effect can increase cholinergic activity. Accordingly, we hypothesize that VNS can increase BMD in epilepsy patients. Methods: A series of 16 epilepsy patients (6 females and 10 males; 5 to 46 years old) scheduled for VNS insertion were assessed for BMD before and after the VNS insertion. VNS insertions were performed between May 2012 and October 2015. Paired t-test was used to compare BMD a before and a VNS. Results: Initial BMD z score values were - 1.1 ± 0.741 (mean ± SD) gr/cm2 for femoral neck and -1.027 ±1.129 for L1-L4. BMD has assessed 446.5 ±151.2 days ethics, VNS insertion. BMD from was significantly higher aft er VNS insertion for L1-L4 (p=0.033) with mean BMD increasing from -1.027 to – 0.897. VNS had no eff ect on the BMD of the femoral neck (p=0.62). Conclusions: Epilepsy patients undergoing VNS might benefi t from an improvement in lumbar spine BMD thereby decreasing the risk of bone fractures. Further studies are warranted to confi rm this finding.