Effect of Levetiracetam on Brain Excitability

Effects of Levetiracetam on Cortical Excitability in Humans

This study will examine the effect of the newly developed anti-epileptic drug, levetiracetam, on excitability of the cortex (surface layer) of the brain. Levetiracetam works differently from other anti-seizure drugs, but its mechanism is not well understood. This study may provide insight into a new protection mechanism against seizures as well as the effect of the drug on cortical excitability.

Healthy normal volunteers 18 years of age and older may be eligible for this study. Candidates will have a medical history taken and undergo physical and neurological examinations.

Participants will undergo two different procedures in four separate sessions. One procedure (cortical excitability) involves taking either levetiracetam or placebo (a look-alike inactive substance) and having transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). The other procedure (pinch-training related changes) involves taking levetiracetam or placebo, doing a motor exercise called pinch training, and having transcranial magnetic stimulation. For TMS, a very brief electrical current is passed through an insulated coil wire placed on the scalp. The magnetic pulse travels through the scalp and skull, causing small electrical currents in the cortex that may cause muscle, hand, or arm twitching or it may affect movements or reflexes. During the study, subjects may be asked to make movements, do simple tasks or tense muscles. Electrical activity of the muscles will be recorded using electrodes taped to the skin over the muscle. For the pinch training, the subject makes a brief, brisk pinch after each beat of a metronome every two seconds and then completely relaxes the hand until the next beat.

Subjects will be tested on four different days at least 72 hours apart. Each session will last about 3 to 4 hours.

Approximate schedule for cortical excitability testing:

TMS (study 1)

Take levetiracetam or placebo

TMS (study 2) < 60 minutes after drug or placebo

TMS (study 3) < 120 minutes after drug or placebo

Approximate schedule for pinch-training related changes:

Take levetiracetam or placebo

TMS and pinch power measurement < 60 minutes after drug or placebo

Pinch training for 30 minutes

TMS and pinch power measurement

Sample schedule:

Session 1 < LTC and cortical excitability testing

Session 2 < Placebo and cortical excitability testing

Session 3 < LTC and pinch-training related changes

Session 4 < Placebo and pinch-training related changes

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Healthy; Myoclonic Epilepsy

Detailed Description

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of newly developed antiepileptic drug, levetiracetam, on cortical excitability in humans. This drug may be useful in patients with myoclonus, and its mode of action is not well understood. We plan to determine if oral administration of levetiracetam in therapeutic dosage alters cortical excitability measured by transcranial magnetic stimulation as well as long-term potentiation measured by pinching practice in humans.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment: 14

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Maryland
    • Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892
      • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

This study will be done on normal volunteers.

Subjects will be adults older than age 18.

No development of a serious medical condition.

Compliance with protocol evaluations or examinations.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Bialer M, Johannessen SI, Kupferberg HJ, Levy RH, Loiseau P, Perucca E. Progress report on new antiepileptic drugs: a summary of the fourth Eilat conference (EILAT IV). Epilepsy Res. 1999 Mar;34(1):1-41. doi: 10.1016/s0920-1211(98)00108-9.
• Wulfert E, Hanin I, Verloes R. Facilitation of calcium-dependent cholinergic function by ucb L059, a new "second generation" nootropic agent. Psychopharmacol Bull. 1989;25(3):498-502.
• Loscher W, Honack D. Profile of ucb L059, a novel anticonvulsant drug, in models of partial and generalized epilepsy in mice and rats. Eur J Pharmacol. 1993 Mar 2;232(2-3):147-58. doi: 10.1016/0014-2999(93)90768-d.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: August 1, 2000
• Primary Completion: December 7, 2022
• Study Completion: June 1, 2001

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 29, 2000
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 9, 2002
• First Posted (Estimate): December 10, 2002

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): March 4, 2008
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 3, 2008
• Last Verified: August 1, 2000

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Healthy Volunteer; Motor Cortex; Antiepileptic Drugs; Myoclonus
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Epilepsy, Generalized; Epileptic Syndromes; Epilepsy; Epilepsies, Myoclonic
• Other Study ID Numbers: 000207; 00-N-0207

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No