The Use of Medicinal Cannabinoids as Adjunctive Treatment for Medically Refractory Epilepsy

Many families of children with medically refractory epilepsy are choosing to use medicinal cannabinoids (MCBD) as an adjunctive alternative treatment option. The safety, tolerability and efficacy of these products are not known. The primary objective of this study is to determine how the use of MCBD affects children with medically refractory epilepsy in an observational study. Measures of evaluation to be used will include: laboratory values, developmental measures, seizure diaries and serial electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings.

Study Overview

• Status: Unknown
• Conditions: Epilepsy, Unspecified, Refractory (Medically)
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Medical Cannabis

Detailed Description

This is an observational study of a family's choice to use MCBD and the effect of this substance on medically refractory epilepsy in children. The risks associated with this use are not well known. There have recently been reports of stroke, liver dysfunction and altered anticonvulsant levels. In addition, there have been long term risks reported of decreased memory function, cognitive problems and executive function abnormalities. This study does not condone or advocate the use of the substance but merely seeks to document the short term effects of the use in this population. It should be noted that providers at Children's Hospital Colorado are not registered providers for medicinal cannabis; therefore, this will be an observational study of effects of this substance as prescribed by other physicians outside of our institution.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 150

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Colorado
    • Aurora, Colorado, United States, 80045
      • Children's Hospital Colorado

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 1 month to 20 years (ADULT, CHILD)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Pediatric epilepsy patients who are followed at Children's Hospital Colorado with medically refractory epilepsy, and whom the family has decided to treat with medicinal cannabis. Children who have not been treated with medically accepted standard treatment for their epilepsy condition will not be accepted into this study as the researchers do not want to be misperceived as condoning the use of medical marijuana in lieu of standard treatment.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Male or Female >1 month of age

2. Documentation of a diagnosis of medically refractory epilepsy as evidenced by medical records, genetic testing and/or the following clinical features:

   • Failure to control seizures despite an appropriate trial of two anticonvulsant medications at therapeutic doses

3. Baseline seizure frequency of at least 2 per week of the any of the following types:

   • Generalized tonic-clonic
   • Clonic
   • Tonic
   • Hemiconvulsive
   • Drop attacks
   • Focal motor
   • Epileptic spasms
4. 1-3 baseline anti-seizure medications at stable doses for a minimum of 4 weeks prior to enrollment.
5. Written informed consent obtained from the patient or the patient's legal representative.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Epilepsies associated with rapidly progressing neurodegenerative diseases ex: Rasmussen encephalitis, and tumors.
2. Epilepsies associated with treatable inborn errors of metabolism
3. Presence of a condition or abnormality that in the opinion of the Investigator would compromise the safety of the patient or the quality of the data.
4. Non-epileptic events.
5. Current use of MCBD products (Note: Patient is eligible if currently using MCBD but will be switching to a different product).

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Subjects with medically refractory epilepsy; Pediatric epilepsy patients who are followed at Children's Hospital Colorado with medically refractory epilepsy, and whom the family has decided to treat with medical cannabis.	Drug: Medical Cannabis; Pediatric patients with medically refractory epilepsy and treated with medicinal cannabis.; Other Names: medicinal cannabinoids (MCBD)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Changes from baseline in background and architecture of seizures confirmed by non-investigational EEG	Prolonged EEG recordings lasting 24-48 hours (whichever is clinically indicated) will be performed in either the home setting as an ambulatory EEG or in the hospital in the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit. This decision will be made on a clinical basis. This will allow for objective quantification of seizures in children with frequent seizures that occur on a daily basis and background EEG changes for other children. Two EEGs will be done: one at baseline, and one at the end of the study.	Baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks
Seizure Frequency	Each subject will maintain a seizure diary. Rescue drug use and VNS (Vagus Nerve Stimulation) activations will be tracked as an adjunct to all current anti-seizure medications. Frequency of status epilepticus will be tracked as well as hospital visits for seizures or adverse events from MCBD. Clinical evaluations will be taken every 2 months throughout the duration of the study. Subjects will be monitored every 2 weeks by telephone and/or email.	Baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks
Pediatric Epilepsy Side Effects Questionnaire	Side effects will be evaluated using PESQ (Pediatric epilepsy Side Effects Questionnaire). This questionnaire will be administered 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks after baseline.	Baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Colorado, Denver
• Collaborators: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Kelly Knupp, MD, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Neurology

Publications and helpful links

Helpful Links

• More information about medical marijuana research at childrens hospital colorado

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: July 1, 2015
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): October 1, 2020
• Study Completion (Anticipated): November 1, 2020

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 23, 2015
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 11, 2015
• First Posted (Estimate): August 14, 2015

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): January 18, 2020
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 14, 2020
• Last Verified: January 1, 2020

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Epilepsy; Marijuana
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Epilepsy; Drug Resistant Epilepsy
• Other Study ID Numbers: 14-1606