Cerebral blood flow modulation by transcutaneous cranial electrical stimulation with Limoge’s current
Journal of Neuroradiology. 2012-07-01; 39(3): 167-175
DOI: 10.1016/j.neurad.2011.06.001
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1. J Neuroradiol. 2012 Jul;39(3):167-75. doi: 10.1016/j.neurad.2011.06.001. Epub
2011 Aug 10.
Cerebral blood flow modulation by transcutaneous cranial electrical stimulation
with Limoge’s current.
Gense de Beaufort D(1), Sesay M, Stinus L, Thiebaut R, Auriacombe M, Dousset V.
Author information:
(1)Service de Neuroradiologie, Hôpital Pellegrin, Place Amélie-Raba-Léon, 33076
Bordeaux cedex, France.
OBJECTIVES: Transcutaneous cranial electrical stimulation (TCES) delivers a
high-frequency (166 kHz) pulsed biphasic balanced current with a pulse repetition
frequency of 100 Hz with 40% duty cycle through a negative electrode and two
positive electrodes over the skull. TCES has a proven ability to potentiate
anesthesia and analgesia, although the physiological mechanisms of this effect
remain unclear. We hypothesized that the mechanism is a modulation of CBF in the
central endogenous opioid system. This study aimed at determining the effects of
TCES on CBF to elucidate its physiological mechanism.
METHODS: Thirty-six healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to active or
placebo TCES, and all assessments were double blind. TCES was performed using the
Anesthelec™ device. In the stimulated group, an active cable was used, and in the
control group (sham), the cable was inactive. CBF was measured by XeCT™ before
and after two hours of TCES.
RESULTS: Globally, CBF was unchanged by TCES. However, locally, TCES induced a
significant CBF decrease in the brainstem and thalamus, which are structures
involved in pain and anxiety (TCES and control CBF decrease were 18.5 and 11.9
mL/100g brain tissue/min, respectively).
CONCLUSION: TCES can modulate local CBF but it has no effect on overall CBF.
[Clinical Trials. gov number: NCT00273663].
Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.
DOI: 10.1016/j.neurad.2011.06.001
PMID: 21835468 [Indexed for MEDLINE]