Asperger's Syndrome Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Asperger's Syndrome, including details on symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, medication.

Effects of vagus nerve stimulation in a patient with temporal lobe epilepsy and Asperger syndrome: Case report and review of the literature.

Warwick TC, Griffith J, Reyes B, Legesse B, Evans M

Department of Internal Medicine, University of California, San Francisco,University Medical Center, 445 South CedarAvenue, Fresno, CA 93702, USA.

Seizures are a common comorbidity of autism and occur in as many as 30% of patients. This case report describes a 23-year-old man diagnosed with both Asperger syndrome and bitemporal epilepsy. The patient had behavioral regression that correlated with worsening of his intractable seizures. He subsequently underwent implantation of a vagus nerve stimulation therapy device for his refractory epilepsy. Both his seizures and his behavior were monitored for 6 months. We describe the efficacy of vagus nerve stimulation therapy in reducing seizure severity as well as improving the behavioral components of his Asperger syndrome. We also review the current literature regarding epilepsy in autistic spectrum disorders.

Published 26 March 2007 in Epilepsy Behav, 10(2): 344-7.
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