A review links the treatment with lower inflammation, less pain and reduced disease activity, but larger studies are needed.
The review examined PubMed research on the vagus nerve, autoimmune disorders and vagus-nerve stimulation. Across the studies assessed, stimulation was associated with reduced inflammatory activity and lower production of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
The reviewed studies also described pain modulation, reduced fatigue and suppression of disease activity. The authors say vagus-nerve stimulation could be used alongside existing treatment, but emphasize that these findings need confirmation in larger, longer and more consistent studies.
Evidence and caveats
This was a review based on a PubMed literature search, not a new clinical trial. Most of the studies it assessed involved small groups of patients, and many used short or nonstandardized stimulation and follow-up periods. The stimulation settings varied substantially, especially in frequency, and research methods were not uniform. Few studies assessed functional outcomes or other disease manifestations, while use of pain medicines and healthcare services was rarely reported. The authors call for larger, placebo-controlled studies with long-term follow-up, consistent outcome measures and standardized stimulation settings such as frequency, intensity and duration.
