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The Effects on Cognitive Function of Levetiracetam (Keppra®) Compared to Carbamazepine (Tegretol®, Carmazepine®) as Monotherapy for Children With Partial Seizure; A Multicentric Randomized Controlled Study

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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02208492
Recruitment Status : Completed
First Posted : August 5, 2014
Last Update Posted : December 9, 2014
Sponsor:
Information provided by (Responsible Party):
Yonsei University

Study Description
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Brief Summary:

Unlike the first generation antiepileptic medications, newer drugs for epilepsy such as levetiracetam are reported to have less adverse effect in children but not many studies have systematically reviewed the subject. This study aims to prospectively evaluate the effect of levetiracetam on neurocognition, behavioral issues and quality of life, as well as its seizure control efficacy and other adverse events in pediatric epilepsy patients, in comparison to carbamazepine, one of the classic antiepileptic medication, widely prescribed for both partial and generalized seizures, despite its well known side effects.

This multicenter, open-label, parallel-group trial is expected to enroll 130 patients from age 4 to 16 woh will be randomized into two groups, which will be prescribed with levetiracetam or carbamazepine. Series of neuropsychological assessment and behavioral and life evaluations of the patients will be performed at baseline period and after the 52 weeks of study period.


Condition or disease Intervention/treatment Phase
Focal Epilepsy Drug: Levetiracetam Drug: Carabamazepine Phase 4

Study Design
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Study Type : Interventional  (Clinical Trial)
Actual Enrollment : 75 participants
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary Purpose: Treatment
Study Start Date : September 2011
Actual Primary Completion Date : December 2013
Actual Study Completion Date : February 2014

Resource links provided by the National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus related topics: Epilepsy Seizures

Arms and Interventions
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Arm Intervention/treatment
Experimental: Levetiracetam Drug: Levetiracetam
Levetiracetam is a second-generation antiepileptic drug that has been approved for the treatment of epilepsy in both children and adults. This anticonvulsant works by binding to the synaptic vesicle protein 2A resulting in a possible effect on neurotransmitter release from presynaptic vesicles, while the exact mechanism of action is still unclear. In both adults and children, levetiracetam treatment in has a proven efficacy in both localization-related and generalized epilepsies. In contrast to first generation, levetiracetam reports less side effects of somnolence or lethargy, but behavioral adverse events, such as changed mood state, aggression, and irritability are noted, but only a few studies have reported such effects in a systemic fashion.
Active Comparator: Carabamazepine Drug: Carabamazepine
Carbamazepine, a first-generation antiepileptic medication, stabilizes the inactivated state of voltage-gated sodium channels, making fewer of these channels available to subsequently open, which leaves the affected cells less excitable and less seizure prone. It is approved for both focal seizures and generalized tonic-clonic or combined seizures for adults and children.


Outcome Measures
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Primary Outcome Measures :
  1. Assessment and comparative analysis of initial and follow-up Neuropsychological evaluation in both treated groups. (Levetiracetam and Carbamazepine) [ Time Frame: 52 weeks ]
    changes in a series of follow-up neurocognitive, behavioral, and emotional function tests (Korean Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Third edition (K-WISC-III, for subjects 6-16 years old)19, 20 or the Korean Weschler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-Third edition (K-WIPSSI-III, for ages 4-6), Korean-Child Behavior Checklist (K-CBCL), Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) 24 and Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMAS))


Secondary Outcome Measures :
  1. Seizure control efficacy [ Time Frame: 52 weeks ]
    Comparison of baseline frequency to final follow-up frequency during the last 24 weeks of the maintenance period(at last visit at 52 week time point)


Eligibility Criteria
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Ages Eligible for Study:   4 Years to 16 Years   (Child)
Sexes Eligible for Study:   All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   No
Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Patients from age 4 to 16, who have been diagnosed with focal epilepsy
  2. Patients who have experienced minimal two unprovoked seizures, or patients who have had one unprovoked seizure and have shown focal abnormality in the EEG
  3. Patients who have not received any antiepileptic medications prior to the study (Those who have been treated with rescue medication are eligible)
  4. Patients with eligible consent or with legal guardians have given official consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Patients with progressive CNS disease, or systemic illness
  2. Patients with level of SGOT/SPGT above the doubled normal level or BUN/Creatinine above the 3 times of the normal range
  3. Patients who had used other anti-epileptic medication during any period of the trial, including baseline period. (Benzodiazepine used as rescue therapy is acceptable)
  4. Patients who show hypersensitive reaction to the study medication.
  5. Patients with any psychological problems.
  6. Patients deemed inappropriate for the study by the investigators
Contacts and Locations
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Information from the National Library of Medicine

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT02208492


Locations
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Korea, Republic of
Severance hospital
Seoul, Korea, Republic of, 120-752
Sponsors and Collaborators
Yonsei University
More Information
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Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):

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Responsible Party: Yonsei University
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02208492    
Other Study ID Numbers: 4-2011-0365
First Posted: August 5, 2014    Key Record Dates
Last Update Posted: December 9, 2014
Last Verified: December 2014
Keywords provided by Yonsei University:
Levetiracetam, Carabamazepine
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
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Epilepsies, Partial
Epilepsy
Brain Diseases
Central Nervous System Diseases
Nervous System Diseases
Carbamazepine
Levetiracetam
Anticonvulsants
Nootropic Agents
Antimanic Agents
Tranquilizing Agents
Central Nervous System Depressants
 Physiological Effects of Drugs
Psychotropic Drugs
Analgesics, Non-Narcotic
Analgesics
Sensory System Agents
Peripheral Nervous System Agents
Sodium Channel Blockers
Membrane Transport Modulators
Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action
Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A Inducers
Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme Inducers