Does vagus nerve stimulation lead to significant changes in body weight in patients with epilepsy?
Vagus nerve stimulation with parameters typically used in the treatment of patients with epilepsy was not associated with clinically significant weight changes. A well-controlled prospective study is necessary for more precise evaluation of the effect of VNS therapy on body weight.
These findings indicate a novel signaling pathway where potentially toxic bile salts down-regulate hepatic iNOS expression. This blockade of the iNOS mediated antiapoptotic phenotype may have important implications in certain liver disorders.