Anti-seizure therapy with a long-term, implanted intra-cerebroventricular delivery system for drug-resistant epilepsy: A first-in-man study

Abstract

Background: A clinical feasibility study was undertaken at a single center of long-term intra-cerebroventricular drug delivery of the anti-seizure medication valproic acid, into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in order to treat drug resistant focal seizures, using an implantable infusion system. The primary objective was to establish the dose range of VPA administered in this manner. Secondarily, safety, pharmacokinetics (PK) and a preliminary estimate of effectiveness were evaluated. Methods: In this single arm study, five adult subjects, with 29–234 focal onset seizures per month from a seizure focus involving the mesial temporal lobe were implanted with the system (clinicaltrials.gov identi..