.An Open-label Clinical Trial Evaluating the ExAblate Model 4000 Type-1 Focused Ultrasound Unilateral Thalamotomy for Patients with Treatment-refractory Focal Onset Epilepsy and Comorbid Anxiety.
Ohio State University
Summary
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and effects on anxiety of high intensity focused ultrasound ablation (FUSA) in patients suffering from treatment-refractory focal epilepsy and anxiety. FUSA is a non-invasive neurosurgical procedure that uses ultrasound waves, sent directly through the scalp and skull, to precisely target small abnormal areas of the brain. For this study, the targeted area of the brain is the anterior nucleus of the thalamus. This brain region may cause seizures and may also be involved in anxiety. The study will test if FUSA is safe and tolerated, and if it reduces anxiety and brain response to threat in patients with anxiety receiving the procedure for partial-onset epilepsy that is resistant to medications.
Description
This is an open-label, Phase 1 prospective intervention study. Ten (10) adults with refractory, partial-onset epilepsy with moderate-severe anxiety and able to provide informed consent will be enrolled. Patients, eligible for Magnetic Resonance Imaging-guided Focused Ultrasound Ablation (MRgFUSA) of the anterior nucleus of the thalamus (ATN) for treatment-refractory epilepsy and who present moderate-severe anxiety will be enrolled. In addition to the diagnosis of medically refractory epilepsy, patients will need to present moderate to severe anxiety (as measured by the Hamilton Anxiety Rating…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Disabling, medically refractory epilepsy (≥2 anti-epileptic drug failures). * Focal onset seizures with secondary generalization; with or without primary generalized seizures. * Previous seizure work-up within 12 months of enrollment date to include: A. Home EEG or EMU video EEG or intracranial EEG. B. High definition MRI imaging/PET imaging. C. Baseline neuropsychological assessment, which includes the Wechsler Advanced Clinical Solutions - Test of Premorbid Functioning (TOPF). * ≥ 3 seizures/month on average within 3 months of enrollment. * Stable medication (includi…
Interventions
- DeviceMagnetic Resonance Imaging-guided Focused Ultrasound Ablation (MRgFUSA)
Unilateral Magnetic Resonance Imaging-guided Focused Ultrasound Ablation (MRgFUSA) of the anterior nucleus of the thalamus (ATN)
Location
- The Ohio State UniversityColumbus, Ohio