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Endocrine

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Open Access 01-02-2021 | Obesity | Original Article

Safety and tolerability of repeated sessions of deep transcranial magnetic stimulation in obesity

Authors: Anna Ferrulli, Stefano Massarini, Concetta Macrì, Livio Luzi

Published in: Endocrine | Issue 2/2021

Abstract

Purpose

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) has been demonstrated to be effective in body weight control in individuals with obesity. Most clinical trials on rTMS provided a reassuring safety profile. In the present work, we present an extensive analysis on both severe and mild Adverse Events (AEs) in obese individuals treated with rTMS.

Methods

We examined the intensity, duration, correlation with the treatment, up to 1 year after the end of rTMS treatment.

Results

Descriptive analysis included a total of 63 subjects undergoing a 5-week deep rTMS experimental treatment for obesity (age 48.3 ± 10.4 years; BMI 36.3 ± 4.4 kg/m²): 31 patients were treated with high-frequency rTMS (HF), 13 with low-frequency rTMS (LF), and 19 were sham treated (Sham). Thirty-two subjects (50.8%) reported a total of 52 AEs, including mainly moderate (51.9%) events. The most frequently reported side effects were headaches of moderate intensity (40.4%) and local pain/discomfort (19.2%) and resulted significantly more frequent in HF group compared to other groups (p < 0.05). No significant differences among groups were found for the other reported AEs: drowsiness, insomnia, paresthesia, vasovagal reactions, hypertensive crisis. No AEs potentially related to the rTMS arised up to 1 year from the end of the treatment.

Conclusions

This is the first comprehensive safety analysis in obese patients treated with rTMS. The analysis did not reveal any unexpected safety concerns. Only headaches and local pain/discomfort have been significantly more frequent in the HF group, confirming the good tolerability of rTMS even in the obese population potentially more susceptible to side effects of brain stimulation.

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Title: Safety and tolerability of repeated sessions of deep transcranial magnetic stimulation in obesity
Authors: Anna Ferrulli
Stefano Massarini
Concetta Macrì
Livio Luzi
Publication date: 01-02-2021
Publisher: Springer US
Keywords: Obesity
Obesity
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Headache
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Published in: Endocrine / Issue 2/2021
Print ISSN: 1355-008X
Electronic ISSN: 1559-0100
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-020-02496-x

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