Early Post-Traumatic Seizures Prevention Trial (E-PTS Trial)

Summary

Rationale/gaps in existing knowledge: The prophylaxis for post-traumatic seizures (PTS) remains controversial due to a lack of class I evidence. Investigators plan to conduct a high-quality, prospective, multicentric, randomized study regarding seizure prophylaxis in traumatic brain injury (TBI) with phenytoin, levetiracetam, and the placebo in three respective treatment groups, along with the effect of drug polymorphism on seizure occurrence.

Novelty: Literature is scarce regarding the ideal management of early PTS in traumatic brain injury (TBI), a major public health problem. Further, no study has evaluated the effect of genetic polymorphism on seizure occurrence in traumatic brain injury. This Multicentric study will be the first of its kind, not only in India but also globally.

Objectives: To evaluate the seizure incidence \& efficacy of the respective anti-epileptic drug in each treatment arm. Assessment of clinical \& functional outcomes, safety profile, and cost-effectiveness in each group. Effect of genetic polymorphisms on seizure incidence among study participants Methods: A Multicentric prospective randomized placebo-controlled double-blinded clinical trial is planned. After satisfying eligibility criteria and informed consent, TBI patients will be randomly allocated into three arms 'phenytoin arm', 'levetiracetam arm', and 'placebo'. Drug polymorphism will be analyzed in all the patients using quantitative real-time PCR.

Expected outcome: This study will provide high-quality evidence in PTS management and will establish the role of prophylactic anti-epileptics in PTS. This study also opens the plethora of undesignated roles of genetic polymorphism in the efficacy and safety of levetiracetam and phenytoin in traumatic brain injury patients.

Conditions

• Seizures
• Traumatic Brain Injuries
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Patients

Interventions

DRUG

Phenytoin

The Phenytoin group will be given a loading dose of phenytoin 20 mg/kg intravenously (maximum, 2 gm) at 50 mg per minute and then started on a maintenance dose (5-6 mg/kg/d, rounded to the nearest 100 mg, intravenously administered every 8 hours). The intravenous will be switched to oral once the patient is fit to take it orally or via Ryles tube. The oral dose would be a single 300 mg ER (extended-release) tablet per day. Both IV and/or oral doses of phenytoin will be given only for 1 week after head trauma. Patient= Patients with Traumatic brain injury as per eligibility criteria. Intervention= Phenytoin loading dose IV (20 mg/kg) followed by 100 mg IV TDS till patient accepts orally. Oral dose will be administered as a single 300 mg ER tablet per day. Both IV and oral phenytoin will be given for 1 week after traumatic brain injury and then stopped. Comparator= Matching Placebo

DRUG

Levetiracetam

The Levetiracetam group will receive 25-30 mg/kg/d in two divided doses (rounded to 750 mg, administered intravenously every 12 hourly). The intravenous dose will be switched to oral form once the patient is fit to take it orally or via Ryles tube. The oral dose would be two tablets of 750 mg ER (extended-release) levetiracetam daily. Both IV and/or oral doses of levetiracetam will be given only for 1 week after head trauma. Patient= Patients with Traumatic brain injury as per eligibility criteria. Intervention= Levetiracetam IV dosing will be 25-30 mg/Kg/d in 2 divided doses (rounded to 750 mg IV BD) followed by 2 tablets of 750 mg ER once patient fit to take orally or via Ryles tube. Comparator= Matching Placebo.

DRUG

Placebo

The Placebo group will be administered normal saline intravenously of similar amount that of intervention group and matching placebo tablets orally (double dummy) once the patient is fit to take orally. Similar to the intervention group, both IV and oral placebo will be given till 1 week after traumatic brain injury.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Indian Council of Medical Research

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh

  collaborator OTHER

• Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences,Lucknow

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur

  lead OTHER_GOV

Principal Investigators

• Dr Apinderpreet Singh Additional Professor, MCh Neurosugery · Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh

• Dr Kamlesh Bhaisora Additional Professor, MCh Neurosugery · Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences,Lucknow

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

70 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-07-23

Primary Completion

2027-03-15

Completion

2028-03-15

Countries

• India

Study Locations