To evaluate the effect of vagus nerve stimulation for refractory epilepsy on the activity of human brown adipose tissue.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Subjects treated with VNS for epilepsy, aged 18-65 years, with a Body Mass Index (BMI) ≤ 28 kg/m2.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Body Mass Index > 28 kg/m2

• Daily epileptic insults.

• Subjects that need 'Rapid Cycling' VNS to control their frequency of epileptic insults.

• Psychological unstable subjects (as judged by the treating neurologist).

• subjects with mental retardation (as judged by the treating neurologist).

• subjects with severe behaviour disorders (as judged by the treating neurologist).

• Pregnant subjects.

• Subjects that previously underwent high dose radiation for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes (radiotherapy, high frequency CT-scans).

• The use of the following medication is an exclusion criterium;

  • ß-blockers,
  • Ketogenic diet

Postoperative patients treated with vagus nerve stimulation for refractory epilepsy