Phase III Double Blind Trial of Valproate Sodium for Prophylaxis of Post Traumatic Seizures

June 23, 2005 updated by: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

OBJECTIVES: I. Determine whether treating head injured patients with valproate sodium will reduce the risk of developing seizures as a result of the head injury.

II. Determine the safety of valproate, the appropriate dose, and the effect valproate may have on the recovery of the brain's ability to compute numbers, solve problems, remember information, and control the movement of limbs after head injury.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

PROTOCOL OUTLINE: This is a randomized, double blind trial involving 3 treatment groups.

On day 1, controls receive phenytoin IV over 1 hour. On days 2 through 7, controls receive 2 doses each of phenytoin and placebo daily, intravenously. From day 8 through 6 months, controls receive placebo IV 4 times daily, then placebo tablets are administered.

On day 1, the experimental group receives a loading dose of valproate sodium intravenously over 1 hour within 24 hours of injury. Then, patients are divided into 2 subgroups.

From day 2 through 1 month, one group of patients receives valproate IV 4 times daily over 1 hour until tablets are tolerated. Patients receive placebo tablets by mouth 4 times daily from month 2 through month 6.

On day 2, the other group of patients receives valproate IV 4 times daily and continues for 6 months until tablets (same dose) are tolerated.

If patients remain seizure free between day 8 and 6 months, the number of valproate or placebo tablets are tapered over 1 week.

Each patient receives a full neuropsychological and psychosocial examination at 1, 6, and 12 months after injury.

Untreated observation of patients continues until 2 years after injury.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment

385

Phase

  • Phase 3

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

14 years and older (Child, Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

PROTOCOL ENTRY CRITERIA:

--Disease Characteristics--

Any patient developing the following conditions within 24 hour postinjury:

  • Cortical contusion
  • Depressed skull fracture
  • Subdural hematoma
  • Epidural hematoma
  • Intracerebral hematoma
  • Penetrating head wound
  • Seizures occurring subsequent to head injury

--Prior/Concurrent Therapy--

  • No antiseizure medication prior to injury or between the injury and study drug loading
  • Surgery: No prior neurosurgical operation for which the skull and dura mater were opened

--Patient Characteristics--

  • Age: 14 and over
  • Hematopoietic: No abnormal coagulation profile
  • Hepatic: No history of chronic or alcoholic liver disease Adequate liver function as indicated by ALT less than 1.5 times the upper limit of normal
  • Other: Not pregnant No injuries greater than 24 hours old No history of seizures prior to injury No prior history of significant head injury or neurological condition requiring medical attention

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

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Collaborators

Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center

Investigators

  • Study Chair: H. Richard Winn, Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center

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

February 1, 1991

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

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 199/12249
  • UW-19643

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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