The Effects on Cognitive Function of Levetiracetam (Keppra®) Compared to Carbamazepine (Tegretol®, Carmazepine®) as Monotherapy for Children With Partial Seizure; A Multicentric Randomized Controlled Study

Unlike the first generation antiepileptic medications, newer drugs for epilepsy such as levetiracetam are reported to have less adverse effect in children but not many studies have systematically reviewed the subject. This study aims to prospectively evaluate the effect of levetiracetam on neurocognition, behavioral issues and quality of life, as well as its seizure control efficacy and other adverse events in pediatric epilepsy patients, in comparison to carbamazepine, one of the classic antiepileptic medication, widely prescribed for both partial and generalized seizures, despite its well known side effects.

This multicenter, open-label, parallel-group trial is expected to enroll 130 patients from age 4 to 16 woh will be randomized into two groups, which will be prescribed with levetiracetam or carbamazepine. Series of neuropsychological assessment and behavioral and life evaluations of the patients will be performed at baseline period and after the 52 weeks of study period.

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Key information

Conditions

Focal Epilepsy Brain Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Epilepsies, Partial Epilepsy Nervous System Diseases

Age range

4 year–16 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 4

Primary location

Severance hospital

Seoul, 120-752, South Korea

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Patients from age 4 to 16, who have been diagnosed with focal epilepsy
Patients who have experienced minimal two unprovoked seizures, or patients who have had one unprovoked seizure and have shown focal abnormality in the EEG
Patients who have not received any antiepileptic medications prior to the study (Those who have been treated with rescue medication are eligible)
Patients with eligible consent or with legal guardians have given official consent

Exclusion criteria

Patients with progressive CNS disease, or systemic illness
Patients with level of SGOT/SPGT above the doubled normal level or BUN/Creatinine above the 3 times of the normal range
Patients who had used other anti-epileptic medication during any period of the trial, including baseline period. (Benzodiazepine used as rescue therapy is acceptable)
Patients who show hypersensitive reaction to the study medication.
Patients with any psychological problems.
Patients deemed inappropriate for the study by the investigators

Treatment and study plan

Levetiracetam

Drug

Levetiracetam is a second-generation antiepileptic drug that has been approved for the treatment of epilepsy in both children and adults. This anticonvulsant works by binding to the synaptic vesicle protein 2A resulting in a possible effect on neurotransmitter release from presynaptic vesicles, while the exact mechanism of action is still unclear. In both adults and children, levetiracetam treatment in has a proven efficacy in both localization-related and generalized epilepsies. In contrast to first generation, levetiracetam reports less side effects of somnolence or lethargy, but behavioral adverse events, such as changed mood state, aggression, and irritability are noted, but only a few studies have reported such effects in a systemic fashion.

Carabamazepine

Drug

Carbamazepine, a first-generation antiepileptic medication, stabilizes the inactivated state of voltage-gated sodium channels, making fewer of these channels available to subsequently open, which leaves the affected cells less excitable and less seizure prone. It is approved for both focal seizures and generalized tonic-clonic or combined seizures for adults and children.

Primary outcomes

Assessment and comparative analysis of initial and follow-up Neuropsychological evaluation in both treated groups. (Levetiracetam and Carbamazepine)

Time frame: 52 weeks

changes in a series of follow-up neurocognitive, behavioral, and emotional function tests (Korean Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Third edition (K-WISC-III, for subjects 6-16 years old)19, 20 or the Korean Weschler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-Third edition (K-WIPSSI-III, for ages 4-6), Korean-Child Behavior Checklist (K-CBCL), Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) 24 and Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMAS))

Secondary outcomes

Seizure control efficacy

Time frame: 52 weeks

Comparison of baseline frequency to final follow-up frequency during the last 24 weeks of the maintenance period(at last visit at 52 week time point)

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Yonsei University

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start: 2011
Primary completion: 2013
Study completion: 2014
First posted: Aug 5, 2014
Registry last updated: Dec 9, 2014

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

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