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Traumatic Brain InjuryPhase 4KeppraNCT00618436

Assess Safety and Efficacy of Levetiracetam(LEV;Keppra)for Seizure Prevention

A Phase 4 study testing Levetiracetam and Phenytoin in people with Traumatic Brain Injury and Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, run by University of Cincinnati at 1 site in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

To show that the use of intravenous levetiracetam(LEV;Keppra)for seizure prevention in patients in the Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit will result in fewer side effects compared to the current standard of care anticonvulsant and will be at least as effective as the current standard of care in preventing clinical and… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
What is being tested?
Levetiracetam and Phenytoin
Type of treatment
Injection or infusion
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
52 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
Aug 2007to Sep 2009
Phase
Phase 4
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Subjects with traumatic brain injury
  • Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) score 3-8(inclusive),or GCS motor score of 5 or less and abnormal admission CT scan showing intracranial pathology
  • Hemodynamically stable with a systolic BP >90 mm Hg
  • At least one reactive pupil
  • A negative pregnancy test in females
  • Age at least 18 years
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  • Signed informed consent and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) authorization for research form OR
  • Subjects with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH)
  • SAH documented by CT scan
  • Hunt-Hess grade 3-5, inclusive
  • Hemodynamically stable with a systolic BP> 90 mm Hg
  • At least one reactive pupil
  • A negative pregnancy test in females
  • Age of at least 18 years
  • Signed informed consent and HIPAA authorization for research form

Who cannot join

  • No venous access
  • Spinal cord injury
  • History of or CT confirmation of previous brain injury such as brain tumor, cerebral infarct, or spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage
  • Hemodynamically unstable
  • Suspected anoxic events
  • Other peripheral trauma likely to result in liver failure
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  • Positive pregnancy test in females
  • Age less than 18 years of age
  • Known hypersensitivity to any anticonvulsant
  • An injury that, in the opinion of the principal investigator, has a high likelihood of death within the first 72 hours.
  • Any treatment, condition, or injury that contraindicates treatment with LEV (levetiracetam) or phenytoin (PHT).
  • Inability to obtain signed informed consent or HIPAA authorization for research.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • University of Cincinnati Hospital

    Cincinnati, Ohio, 45220

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Assessment of Seizure Prophylaxis Protocols Using Intravenous Levetiracetam in a Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit

To show that the use of intravenous levetiracetam(LEV;Keppra)for seizure prevention in patients in the Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit will result in fewer side effects compared to the current standard of care anticonvulsant and will be at least as effective as the current standard of care in preventing clinical and sub-clinical seizure activity.

Read the detailed description

To show that the use of intravenous levetiracetam(LEV;Keppra)for seizure prophylaxis in the Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit will result in fewer adverse effects compared to the current standard of care anticonvulsant(phenytoin) and will be at least as effective as phenytoin in preventing clinical and sub-clinical seizure activity.

Being tested
Levetiracetam, Phenytoin
Keywords
Seizures, Traumatic Brain Injury, Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Medical subject headings
Brain Injuries, Traumatic, Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, Seizures

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • LevetiracetamDrug

    Also called Keppra

    Levetiracetam group will receive a loading dose of 20 mg/kg IV(rounded to nearest 250mg) to a maximum of 2000mg, then started on maintenance dose (1000 mg,IV q 12h) as prophylaxis for seven days.

  • PhenytoinDrug

    Also called Dilantin

    The group will receive a loading dose of fosphenytoin 20 mg/kg IV to a maximum of 2000 mg, then started on maintenance dose of 5mg/kg/day, rounded to nearest 100mg dose, IV, q 12h for seven days.

Study groups in NCT00618436
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
LevetiracetamActive comparatorGroup 1 - The levetiracetam (Keppra®) group will receive a loading dose of 20 mg/kg IV over 15 minutes (rounded to the nearest 250mg) up to a maximum of 2000 mg, then started on maintenance dose (1000 mg, IV BID)as prophylaxis for 7 days.
Receives: Drug: Levetiracetam
PhenytoinActive comparatorGroup 2-The phenytoin group will receive a loading dose of 20 mg/kg IV to a maximum of 2000mg, then started on maintenance dose at 5 mg/kg/day (rounded to nearest 100mg dose, IV, divided into three doses a day) as prophylaxis for 7 days. Phenytoin levels are to be checked daily and dose adjusted as needed to maintain therapeutic levels of 10-20 µg/dL.
Receives: Drug: Phenytoin

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Seizure Incidence

    This was the number of patients in each group who demonstrated seizure activity during the course of the study

    Measured: Duration of study, up to 6 months after the injury

Secondary outcomes (3)
  1. Extended Glasgow Outcome Score

    This is an 8 point validated scale that measures disability after brain injury. It is assessed through an in person exam or by phone interview at hospital discharge, 3 months and 6 months after injury. The categories are: 1 = dead; 2 = vegetative state; 3 = severe disability, low level; 4 = severe disability, high level; 5 = moderate disability, low level; 6 = moderate disability, high level; 7 = good recovery - low level; 8 = good recovery - high level. Specific questions and activities are assessed to determine into which category the patient falls.

    Measured: at discharge; 3 and 6 months following injury

  2. Disability Rating Scale (DRS)

    The Disability rating scale (DRS) is frequently used in the rehabilitation literature as a measure of disability. It is a reliable, easily performed test that assesses 8 items (eye opening, verbalization, motor response, feeding, toileting, grooming, level of functioning, employability), and assigns each a numerical score ranging from 0 - 5 based on the category. The domains these 8 items are felt to assess include: alertness, cognition for self-care, dependence, and psychosocial adaptability. The scoring range is from 0-30, with increasing disability levels assigned to higher numerical values. The total DRS is then dichotomized into favorable (disability = none, mild, partial or moderate disability) and unfavorable (disability = moderately severe, severe, extremely severe, vegetative state, extreme vegetative state, death) outcomes. A DRS score of 0-6 was favorable, with any score greater than 6 categorized as unfavorable.

    Measured: Discharge; 3 and 6 months following injury

  3. Incidence of Adverse Events

    Measured: discharge; 3 and 6 months following injury

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted20 Feb 2008 (estimated)
  2. Study startAug 2007
  3. Primary completionSep 2009
  4. Study completionSep 2009

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 4
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
52 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT00618436
Sponsor's protocol ID
06-4-6-7
Acronym
Keppra
Status last verified
Mar 2014
First submitted
8 Feb 2008
Last updated
7 Apr 2014
Data monitoring committee
Yes

Publications

  • Steinbaugh LA, Lindsell CJ, Shutter LA, Szaflarski JP. Initial EEG predicts outcomes in a trial of levetiracetam vs. fosphenytoin for seizure prevention. Epilepsy Behav. 2012 Mar;23(3):280-4. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2011.12.005. Epub 2012 Feb 16.

    PubMed 22342434

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 4 study testing Levetiracetam and Phenytoin in people with Traumatic Brain Injury and Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, run by University of Cincinnati at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 15 inclusion and 12 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 7 Apr 2014. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 4 studies take place after a treatment is approved, to learn more about its long-term benefits and risks in everyday use.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 7 Apr 2014). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Seizure Incidence (time frame: Duration of study, up to 6 months after the injury). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT00618436, which also lists 1 linked publication.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 7 Apr 2014.

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