A new clinical trial has revealed that there are long-term benefits to using deep brain stimulation (DBS) as an epilepsy treatment. The SANTE trial was reported on December 2, 2012 at the 66th annual Scientific Meeting of the American Epilepsy Society (AES).

Patients who participated in the SANTE trial were only admitted if they had a long history of dealing with epilepsy before participating in the trial. The participants also must have experienced failed efforts in their previous treatments, which included prescription drugs like Topamax. The SANTE trial proved to be effective at controlling seizures. The SANTE trial took about 5 years to complete and looked to the efficacy of DBS in treating partial-onset epilepsy. The results of the study were reported by Vicenta Salanova, M.D. FAAN, Professor of Neurology and Director of the Indiana University School of Medicine Comprehensive Epilepsy Program. The study concluded that DBS provided 69 percent of the patients with a reduction in the number of seizures they experienced after five years. In fact, DBS reduced the seizures by at least 50 percent.

“In these very refractory patients, there was a significant reduction in seizure frequency and severity with a median percent reduction in seizure frequency of 69 percent at five years,” said Salanova. “And continued improvement in quality of life measures, as well… Over the entire study 16 percent of patients were seizure-free for at least 6 months. No unanticipated adverse device effects were observed, and there were no symptomatic intracranial hemorrhages. Based on the SANTE trial DBS therapy for medically-refractory partial and secondarily-generalized seizures has been approved in Europe and Canada, but remains investigational in the United States.”

If this study holds any weight, it shows that DBS may even prove to be a replacement therapy option to prescription medications like Topamax. Topamax is a popular epilepsy treatment that has proven dangerous to babies whose mothers take the drug while pregnant. The birth defects linked to Topamax include PPHN, oral clefts, spina bifida, neural tube defects as well as heart, lung and brain defects.

If your baby was born with birth defects due to in-utero exposure to the drug, contact attorney Greg Jones today for a free consultation. I am experienced at fighting Topamax lawsuits and may be able to help you receive compensation for your child’s injuries.