Cognitive AED Outcomes in Pediatric Localization Related Epilepsy (COPE)

Phase 3

Terminated

Conditions: Epilepsy, Partial
Epilepsy, Localization Related

Interventions: Drug: Levetiracetam
Drug: Lamotrigine
Drug: Oxcarbazepine

Registration Number: NCT01891890

Lead Sponsor: Emory University

Brief Summary: Seizures that arise in specific areas in the brain are called Localization Related Epilepsy (LRE) and are the most common seizure disorder in children. Children that receive drug treatment for this disorder may suffer from treatment related side effects which impact their ability to think or concentrate and their ability to interact socially. These negative treatment effects can impact the child's performance in school and long term may impact employment and job options.

This study will determine whether changes in attention and social interactions are seen in children treated for LRE using three of the most common medications used to treat pediatric LRE. Children who are newly diagnosed with LRE by their doctors and are between the ages of 5 years 6 months and 16 years 0 months will be randomized to receive levetiracetam, lamotrigine, or oxcarbazepine.

There will be 14 study sites throughout the US. Children will undergo evaluation of their thinking and ability to pay attention before and after starting drug treatment for LRE. Regardless of the specific findings, results of this study will provide the information needed to help parents and their clinicians choose treatment options that maximize cognitive abilities in children with LRE, and provide the data needed for practice guidelines to be established on the basis of cognitive side effect risks.

Detailed Description: This is a prospective multicenter, randomized, open-label, central assessor, parallel-group study of children ages 5 years, 6 months to 16 years, 0 months with newly diagnosed Localization Related Epilepsy (LRE) to establish whether three common antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) used as first line LRE treatment (lamotrigine (LTG), levetiracetam (LEV), or oxcarbazepine (OXC)) are associated with differential cognitive side effects on attention. It is predicted that one AED will be identified with greater negative cognitive effects on attention. The study will also examine whether there are differential risks for drug-related behavior change. The study will address whether 6 month attentional outcomes can be reliably predicted based upon shorter term cognitive change assessed soon after beginning AED therapy, and establish practice effects associated with repeated test exposure when on constant doses of AED.

Children will undergo cognitive testing after study enrollment and no more than a week after AED initiation. Selected measures will be repeated at the first follow up clinic visit after beginning AED treatment, and the primary endpoint will be the attention performance obtained at the subjects' 6 month follow-up clinic visit.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: TERMINATED

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 72

Inclusion Criteria

Age of participant between 5 years, 6 months and 16 years, 0 months at the time of enrollment
Weight is between ≥ 15 kg the lower limit BMI 99th percentile at study entry at study entry
Child has diagnosed epilepsy as defined by one of the following definitions :
- At least two unprovoked seizures occurring more than 24-hours apart, or
- One unprovoked seizure and a probability of further seizures similar to the general recurrence risk after two unprovoked seizures (approximately 75% or more), or
- At least two seizures in a setting of reflex epilepsy
Child has a diagnosis of Localization Related Epilepsy (LRE) with or without secondary generalization according to International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) criteria and which may include Benign Rolandic Epilepsy and Benign Occipital Epilepsy or other LREs.
Localization related seizures will be based upon at least one of the following: 1) focal EEG abnormalities (sharp waves, spikes, or slowing) and the absence of generalized spike waves discharges, 2) focal MRI abnormalities other than active cysticercosis, which may include temporal lobe sclerosis, dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor , ganglioglioma, or focal malformations of cortical development, 3) focal neurologic abnormalities, or 4) clinical semiology, which may include Todd's phenomenon, unilateral dystonia, or fencing posture, or distinct aura consistent with localization related seizure onset (e.g., classic déjà vu or bad smell).
Participants must either be antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy naïve or on an AED (excluding benzodiazepines) for 1-week or less. Children may be on a stable dose of psychostimulants at the time of enrollment, but no change in medication, dose, or schedule in 3 months prior to study enrollment, with no anticipated dosing changes during the 6 months of the study. If participants are taking psychostimulants at the time of study entry, they should plan on continuing them for the 6 month duration of the study protocol including the 3-month and 6-month cognitive and behavioral testing time points.
Females of child bearing potential must agree to acceptable forms of birth control, which may include abstinence.
The child's parent/guardian must be able to keep an accurate seizure diary and be able and willing to comply with instructions and study procedures.
Informed consent from the child's legal guardian or legal representative.
Assent will be obtained from children according to each site's institutional guidelines.

Exclusion Criteria

Children with history of primary generalized seizures (absence, myoclonic, drop)
Children with mixed seizure disorder (e.g., Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome)
Children with sensory seizures only (i.e., auras)
Children with 6+ seizures in the previous week
Children with a history of status epilepticus
Children with a history of neonatal seizures
Children with diagnoses of pervasive developmental disorders (e.g., autism/autism spectrum disorders)
Children with progressive neurological disease (e.g., degenerative, progressive neoplasm)
Children with major medical disease (e.g., Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM), cancer, renal failure)
Children with diseases with cognitive impact (e.g., inborn errors of metabolism, sickle cell disease with history of stroke)
Children with active cysticercosis documented on MRI
Children with cognitive impairment of sufficient severity that, in the opinion of the investigator, would diminish the likelihood of valid test performance (roughly corresponding to Full Scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ) less than 70)
Children with suicide attempt(s) at any point during their lifetime
Children with active suicide ideation
Children with chronic use of first generation antihistamines
Children using recreational drugs (including alcohol)
Children not fluent in either English or Spanish
Female children who are pregnant
Female children who are using oral contraceptives for birth control or for any other indication (e.g. acne treatment)

Study & Design

Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Levetiracetam	Levetiracetam	Levetiracetam 30 mg/kg tablet or liquid administered daily in 2 equally divided doses
Lamotrigine	Lamotrigine	Lamotrigine 7.0 mg/kg tablets or chewable tablets administered daily in 2 equally divided doses
Oxcarbazepine	Oxcarbazepine	Oxcarbazepine 25 mg/kg tablets or liquid administered daily in 2 equally divided doses

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Conners' Continuous Performance Test II (CPT-II) Confidence Index	Baseline, Month 6	The Conners' Continuous Performance Test II (CPT-II) is a measure of sustained attention. Letters are individually presented on a computer screen, and participants are instructed to press the space bar when they are presented with any letter except the letter "X". For children younger than 6 years of age at enrollment, the Kiddie CPT will be used in which the child is instructed to press the space bar every time the ball appears on the screen. The outcome measure is a confidence index representing the probability that the respondent has a clinically relevant problem in sustained attention. Possible scores range from 0 to 100. Scores between 40 and 60 are considered inconclusive while scores above 60 indicate that the child exhibits inattentiveness.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Child Behavior Checklist	Baseline, Month 6	The Child Behavior Checklist is a measure of specific behavioral and emotional problems are rated by the child's parent or guardian. The Child Behavior Checklist examines three domains (Social Functioning, Mood and Anxiety Symptoms, and Externalizing Symptoms) by assessing 118 problem items that describe specific behavioral and emotional problems. Respondents indicate how accurately the statements describe the child by selecting from options on a 3-point Likert-type scale (0=Not True, 1= Somewhat or Sometimes True, or 2=Very True or Often True). Total raw scores are converted to t-scores with a mean of 50 and standard deviation of 10. A t-score of 67 or greater is considered to be in the clinical range for problematic behavior.

Trial Locations

Locations (14): Johns Hopkins University
🇺🇸
Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
🇺🇸
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Cincinnati Children's Hospital
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Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
Washington University
🇺🇸
Saint Louis, Missouri, United States
Children's Hospital Colorado
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Aurora, Colorado, United States
University of Rochester
🇺🇸
Monroe, New York, United States
Le Bonheur Children's Hospital
🇺🇸
Memphis, Tennessee, United States
University of California at San Diego
🇺🇸
San Diego, California, United States
Children's Healtcare of Atlanta
🇺🇸
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Boston Children's Hospital
🇺🇸
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Virginia Commonwealth University
🇺🇸
Richmond, Virginia, United States
Arkansas Children's Hospital
🇺🇸
Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
Eastern Virginia Medical School
🇺🇸
Norfolk, Virginia, United States
Children's National Medical Center
🇺🇸
Washington, D.C., District of Columbia, United States