Phase II Randomized Study of Early Surgery Vs Multiple Sequential Antiepileptic Drug Therapy for Infantile Spasms Refractory to Standard Treatment

OBJECTIVES: I. Evaluate the efficacy of surgical resection of an identifiable zone of cortical abnormality versus multiple drug therapy in children with infantile spasms refractory to standard therapy.

II. Assess how infantile spasms interfere with development and whether this is partially reversible.

III. Determine the predictors of good surgical outcome and whether surgery permanently controls seizures and improves development.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

PROTOCOL OUTLINE: This is a randomized study. Patients are randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatment groups. The first group undergoes sequential antiepileptic therapy with pyridoxine, corticotropin, valproic acid, carbamazepine, and nitrazepam. The sequence of administration may be altered based on drugs taken prior to entry. Any drug may be omitted due to medical contraindications or prior use at study doses or higher.

The second group undergoes surgical resection of the zone of cortical abnormality. A functional hemispherectomy is performed for hemiparesis or diffuse unihemispheric dysfunction.

If seizures are controlled in the first group at 3 months, the current medication is maintained; if seizures are not controlled, sequential therapy continues to completion. Patients experiencing uncontrolled seizures at 6 months cross to surgery.

Surgical patients experiencing uncontrolled seizures at 3 months or persistent seizures after taper of pre-study antiepileptics cross to drug therapy.

All patients are followed at 6 months and 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 10 years.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment

30

Phase

  • Phase 2

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

1 second to 2 years (Child)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

PROTOCOL ENTRY CRITERIA:

Disease Characteristics

  • Infantile spasms or seizures with diagnosis based on the following: short muscular contractions leading to flexion or extension; Single or repetitive electroencephalogram (EEG) consistent with diagnosis, i.e., hypsarrhythmia, modified hypsarrhythmia, multifocal spike and wave abnormalities; developmental quotient less than 70
  • Zone of cortical abnormality in 1 lobe, contiguous multilobes, or 1 hemisphere; confirmed by historical, neurological, and physical evidence, including EEG, closed circuit televised EEG, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and/or positron-emission tomography; at least 2 abnormal test/imaging results required
  • No treatable seizure etiology such as metabolic disease or infection

Prior/Concurrent Therapy

  • Failed standard therapy, i.e., refractory to corticotropin (at least 40 IU/day for 14 days) as follows: persistent infantile spasms OR recurrent spasms after discontinuation or taper OR complications requiring dose modification
  • At least 1 month of standard antiepileptic drug with documented therapeutic blood levels

Patient Characteristics

  • No medical contraindication to surgery
  • English-speaking family

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Investigators

  • Study Chair: W. Donald Shields, University of California, Los Angeles

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

November 1, 1993

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 24, 2000

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 24, 2000

First Posted (Estimate)

February 25, 2000

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

June 24, 2005

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 23, 2005

Last Verified

December 1, 2001

More Information

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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