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Pulvinar Stimulation in Epilepsy: a Pilot Study

NCT04692701 · Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 12

Last updated 2026-02-10

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is one of the neuromodulation techniques that can be indicated in patients suffering from refractory epilepsies, especially when an open resection has failed or is not indicated, and vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) demonstrated no efficacy. Benefits such as reduction of seizure frequency have been shown for thalamic stimulation of the anterior thalamic nucleus (ANT), however it has limited efficacy and non-optimal neurocognitive outcome, making the search for other targets crucial in this context. We propose a novel target for DBS stimulation in drug-resistant epilepsy namely the medial pulvinar thalamic nucleus (PuM).

This target has been chosen based on previous retrospective studies demonstrating that PuM is involved during focal seizures and in loss of consciousness and seizure termination. PuM stimulation also showed potential encouraging results based on the feasibility and safetu studies recently published.

The main objective is to obtain a significant percentage of seizure reduction after 12 months of PuM stimulation compared to baseline period. Quality of life and the relationship with psychiatric and cognitive comorbidities will also be assessed.

Conditions

Interventions

DEVICE

Pulvinar deep brain stimulation

Stimulation of the medial pulvinar

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Assistance Publique Hopitaux De Marseille

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Jean-Olivier Arnaud · Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille

Study Design

Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Model
SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
60 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2021-01-15
Primary Completion
2023-10-23
Completion
2026-10-23

Countries

  • France

Study Locations

More Related Trials

Entities

Diseases

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT04692701 on ClinicalTrials.gov