The Efficacy and Safety of Levetiracetam Versus Fosphenytoin in Convulsive Status Epilepticus

The Efficacy and Safety of Levetiracetam Versus Fosphenytoin in Convulsive Status Epilepticus: An Open Label Clinical Trial in Dhaka Medical College Hospital

Status epilepticus (SE) is an emergency, life-threatening medical condition that may cause irreversible cerebral damage. Therefore, the rapid and secure cessation of seizures and resuscitation is crucial. Potent gamma-aminobutyric acid agonists, including benzodiazepines, are recommended as first-line treatments. For the complete cessation of SE and prevention of recurrence, long-acting antiepileptic drugs (e.g.- FPHT) are also required as second-line treatments along with short-acting benzodiazepines. Intravenous fosphenytoin (FPHT) is associated with fewer adverse events such as life-threatening arrhythmia, cardiac arrest, hypotension, and allergic reactions. Levetiracetam (LEV), is considered to be effective for SE with less serious adverse events including dizziness, somnolence, headache, and transient agitation, but there have been no reports of arrhythmias, hypotension, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, or hepatotoxicity. Preceding studies show that levetiracetam is similarly effective and associated with fewer adverse effects than those of fosphenytoin. Few trials have compared the effectiveness and safety of levetiracetam (LEV) and fosphenytoin (FHP) for status epilepticus worldwide. Moreover, genetic variation is likely to play a crucial role in the development of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) including drug resistance. By far, no study has yet been conducted addressing the issue of efficacy and safety between levetiracetam (LEV) and fosphenytoin (FHP) in status epilepticus in the context of the Bangladeshi population. A comparative study of the efficacy and safety of levetiracetam (LEV) and fosphenytoin (FHP) will be expected to give more confidence for the use of the drug. Considering this the study aims to assess the safety and efficacy of levetiracetam (LEV) and fosphenytoin (FHP) in status epilepticus. This study finding has an implication in the treatment protocol which will be beneficial for the patients and physicians as well. Furthermore, it will give input to the policymaker for developing new guidelines regarding status epilepticus management and also encourage future research.

Study Overview

• Status: Enrolling by invitation
• Conditions: Status Epilepticus
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Levetiracetam Injection; Drug: Fosphenytoin Injection

Detailed Description

A randomized control trial will be conducted in the Department of Neurology, DMCH. Ethical approval will be obtained from the DMCH ethical review board before the study. After the selection of the subjects, the nature, purpose, and benefit of the study will be explained to each subject & their legal attendants in detail. They will be encouraged for voluntary participation. Informed written consent will be taken from the participants or their legal attendants. Diagnosis of Status epilepticus will be made according to the criteria of the ILAE task force on classification of status epilepticus (2015). The history of previous disease and habits as well as demographics, the type of SE, seizure duration before treatment, the cause of SE and family history will be recorded. In both groups, height and body weight were estimated from body habitus, family information, or patient records. Blood pressure will be measured. BMI will be calculated as weight (kg)height (m)2. In all patients, neurological assessment will be conducted routinely. Randomized sampling methods will be applied for selecting study subjects. Randomization will be carried out into two groups. After that group A will be treated with FHP and group B will be treated with LEV. Resuscitation and stabilization will be simultaneously performed to ensure airway patency, oxygen inhalation to prevent cerebral hypoxia, securing intravenous access & maintenance of blood pressure. Routine laboratory investigations (full blood count, blood glucose, electrolytes, calcium, magnesium, liver function test & renal function test) will be done. EEG will be done in all patients.

At first, Diazepam will be intravenously administered at 10 mg to all patients. Then, if SE (Status Epilepticus) is not controlled within 20 minutes from Diazepam needle time, study participants will be rapidly randomized and allocated to the FPHT and LEV groups.

In the FPHT group, FPHT at 20 mg/kg (Phenytoin equivalent dose of 15 mg/kg) will be intravenously administered in 100mL of normal saline at an administration rate not exceeding 3mg/kg/min or 150 mg/min.

In the LEV group, LEV at 60 mg/kg (max dose 4500 mg) will be intravenously administered in 100mL of normal saline at an administration rate of 2-5mg/kg/min or over 10 minutes.

Then, after 30 minutes following FPHT/LEV needle time reassessment of the patient will be done to determine the outcomes.

If seizures continue after 30 minutes following FPHT/LEV needle time then, other injectable agents ( e.g- if FPHT given previously, can give LEV intravenously at 60 mg/kg [max dose 4500 mg] or if LEV given previously, can give FPHT intravenously at 20 mg/kg [Phenytoin equivalent dose of 15 mg/kg] ) will be given to the patient.

If seizures still continue after 30 minutes patient will be transferred to intensive care and the standard of care will be given according to intensive care unit protocol.

Once status controlled commence maintenance therapy with Levetiracetam 1000-1500 mg IV twice daily in case of Group-A patient or with FPHT 400 mg/day IV in case of Group-B patient. Subsequent anti-seizure medications will be given based on seizure semiology, etiology, electroencephalography (EEG) correlates, and age of the patient.

After the cessation of seizures, electroencephalography (EEG), neuroimaging (CT / MRI brain), CSF study & other necessary investigations will be performed as needed. FPHT or LEV will be randomized only for the first administration after diazepam and their subsequent administration will be not regulated. The primary outcome will be the seizure cessation rate within 30 minutes of starting administration of the study drug. Secondary outcomes will be the seizure recurrence rate within 24 hours, which will be confirmed by an apparent seizure or non-convulsive seizure detected by EEG; the serious adverse event rate throughout the observational period potentially induced by the study drugs, such as cardiac arrest, life-threatening arrhythmia, respiratory arrest and hypotension and the intubation rate within 24hours. All the information will be recorded in a structured data collection sheet.

Patients will be followed up at 30 minutes, 24 hours, and at discharge after receiving medication and the following outcomes will be assessed: seizure cessation rate, seizure recurrence rate, intubation rate, all-cause in-hospital mortality, adverse effects of drugs, and mRS at discharge. All data will be collected, tabulated, and analyzed statistically using a personal computer and the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 26 (IBM, Chicago, Illinois, USA).

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 62
• Phase: Phase 4

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Bangladesh
  • Dhaka, Bangladesh, 1000
    • Dhaka Medical College Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age >18 years
• Patients with convulsive status epilepticus
• Both male and female
• Willing to give consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with convulsive status epilepticus already intubated before treatment
• Acute precipitant of seizure was major trauma, hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, cardiac arrest, or post-anoxia
• Known allergic to FPHT or LEV
• Pregnant patient
• Liver disease or severe renal impairment

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Levetiracetam; Levetiracetam at 60 mg/kg (max dose 4500 mg) will be intravenously administered in 100mL of normal saline at an administration rate of 2-5mg/kg/min or over 10 minutes.	Drug: Levetiracetam Injection; Levetiracetam at 60 mg/kg (max dose 4500 mg) will be intravenously administered in 100mL of normal saline at an administration rate of 2-5mg/kg/min or over 10 minutes. After 30 minutes following Levetiracetam needle time reassessment of the patient will be done to determine the outcomes.; Other Names: Iracet Injection; Neurocet Injection
Active Comparator: Fosphenytoin; Fosphenytoin at 20 mg/kg (Phenytoin equivalent dose of 15 mg/kg) will be intravenously administered in 100mL of normal saline at an administration rate not exceeding 3mg/kg/min or 150 mg/min.	Drug: Fosphenytoin Injection; Fosphenytoin at 20 mg/kg (Phenytoin equivalent dose of 15 mg/kg) will be intravenously administered in 100mL of normal saline at an administration rate not exceeding 3mg/kg/min or 150 mg/min. After 30 minutes following the Fosphenytoin needle time reassessment of the patient will be done to determine the outcomes.; Other Names: Fosfen Injection

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
To determine the efficacy and safety between Levetiracetam and Fosphenytoin in adult convulsive status epilepticus.	The measurement of a medicine desire effect under ideal conditions, such as clinical trial ( European medicine agency). It is measured as percentage in reduction of seizure frequency from the time of drug initiation and also measure the Incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events.	At 24 hours

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Seizure cessation rate	Seizure cessation rate was calculated by the ratio between number of patients admitted with status epilepticus and number of patient free from convulsion after administration of intervention drug	Thirty minutes
Seizure recurrence rate within 24 hours	seizure recurrence rate within 24 hours, which was confirmed by an apparent seizure or non-convulsive seizure detected by EEG	24 hours
Observe and compare the serious adverse event rate	Any noxious, unintended and undesired effect (including an abnormal laboratory finding) of a drug which occurs at a dose used in humans for prophylactic, diagnostic or therapeutic purpose (WHO)	At 30 minutes, at 24 hours and at Hospital discharge
Intubation rate within 24hours	Patient need intubation and mechanical ventilation	24 hours
All-cause in-hospital mortality among patients	Death during hospital admission period from all causes	From date of randomization until the date of death from any cause
Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score	The Modified Rankin Score (mRS) is a 6 point disability scale with possible scores ranging from 0 to 5. A separate category of 6 is usually added for patients who expire. mRS score '0' means patient has no residual symptoms and score '6' means patient has expired	At 30 minutes, at 24 hours and at Hospital discharge

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Dhaka Medical College
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Dr Md Amirul Islam, MBBS, MD (Neurology) Phase B Resident; Study Chair: Professor Dr Kazi Gias Uddin Ahmed, MD, Professor of Neurology, Dhaka Medical College; Study Director: Dr Reaz Mahmud, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Dhaka Medical College

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 15, 2023
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 1, 2024
• Study Completion (Estimated): October 1, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 21, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 6, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): May 7, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 7, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 6, 2024
• Last Verified: May 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Status Epilepticus; Levetiracetam; Fosphenytoin
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nervous System Diseases; Neurologic Manifestations; Seizures; Status Epilepticus; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Membrane Transport Modulators; Anticonvulsants; Sodium Channel Blockers; Nootropic Agents; Levetiracetam; Fosphenytoin
• Other Study ID Numbers: ERC-DMC/ECC/2023/131

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: Demographic variables, Primary and Secondary outcomes
• IPD Sharing Time Frame: May 2023 to October 2024
• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: Those who works with Status Epilepticus patients
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: STUDY_PROTOCOL; SAP; CSR

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No