Article

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the safety, feasibility and preliminary efficacy of
low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the
cerebellum in ataxic patients with acute posterior circulation stroke. DESIGN:
Randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled pilot study.
PATIENTS: Thirty-two
ataxic patients with posterior circulation stroke were randomized to real (n =
22) and sham (n = 10) rTMS groups. Methods: Patients received 5 15-min sessions
of 1 Hz cerebellar rTMS over 5 consecutive days. Compliance and adverse events
for the rTMS sessions were checked. The 10-m walk test (10MWT) and Berg Balance
Scale (BBS) were completed before rTMS, immediately and 1 month after the last
rTMS session. RESULTS: Compliance with the rTMS was 100% and no adverse events
were reported in either group. 10MWT and BBS of real rTMS group improved
significantly (p < 0.01). Percentage changes immediately after the last rTMS
session for time and steps in the 10MWT and BBS in the real vs sham group were:
-16.7 +/- 35.1% vs -8.4 +/- 72.5%, -8.5 +/- 23.0% vs -0.3 +/- 28.4% and 46.4 +/-
100.2% vs 36.6 +/- 71.6%, respectively. CONCLUSION:
This study demonstrated that
1 Hz rTMS over the cerebellum is safe, feasible and may have a beneficial effect
in ataxic patients with posterior circulation stroke.

Langue : ANGLAIS