Intracranial botulinum toxin therapy for focal epilepsy

Abstract

Methods for treating and/or curing epilepsy by intracranial administration of a botulinum toxin.

1 . A method for treating focal epilepsy in a patient in need thereof, the method comprising the steps of:
 identifying an epileptogenic focus of a patient; and   intracranially administering a botulinum toxin to the epileptogenic focus of the patient, thereby treating the focal epilepsy of the patient.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the botulinum toxin is selected from the group consisting of botulinum toxin types A, B, C 1 , D, E, F and G. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the botulinum toxin is botulinum toxin type A. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the botulinum toxin is administered in an amount of between about 10 −3  U/kg and about 10 U/kg of patient weight. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method alleviates epilepsy for between about 1 month and about 5 years. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the identifying step utilizes electroencephalography to determine the location of the epileptogenic focus. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the botulinum toxin is administered to an epileptogenic focus at a temporal gyrus. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the botulinum toxin is administered to an epileptogenic focus at a fusiform gyrus. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the botulinum toxin is administered to an epileptogenic focus at a middle or superior temporal gyrus. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the botulinum toxin is administered to an epileptogenic focus a left or right or fusiform gyrus. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the botulinum toxin is administered to an epileptogenic focus at a mesial region of a temporal lobe. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the intracranial administration step comprises implantation of a controlled release botulinum toxin system. 
     
     
         13 . A method for treating focal epilepsy in a patient in need thereof, the method comprising the step of intracranial administration of a therapeutically effective amount of a botulinum toxin type A to an epileptogenic focus of a patient, thereby treating focal epilepsy of the patient. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the patient experiences intractable seizures as a result of the focal epilepsy. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the botulinum toxin is administered in an amount of between about 10 −2  U/kg and about 1 U/kg of patient weight. 
     
     
         16 . A method for treating focal epilepsy, the comprising the step of administering intracranially a therapeutically effective amount of a botulinum toxin to an identified epileptogenic focus, wherein the identified epileptogenic focus is located in an anterior portion of the temporal lobe, thereby treating the focal epilepsy. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the anterior portion is 5 to 6 cm from the tip of the temporal lobe along a middle temporal gyrus. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the botulinum toxin is selected from the group consisting of botulinum toxin types A, B, C 1 , D, E, F and G. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the botulinum toxin is botulinum toxin type A. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the botulinum toxin is administered in an amount of between about 10 −3  U/kg and about 100 U/kg of patient weight.