Effect of Valproic Acid Concentration on Photic Response
Information source: Vanderbilt University
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this data on August 20, 2015 Link to the current ClinicalTrials.gov record.
Condition(s) targeted: Photosensitive Epilepsy
Intervention: Valproic Acid (Drug); placebo (Drug)
Phase: N/A
Status: Completed
Sponsored by: Vanderbilt University Official(s) and/or principal investigator(s): Bassel Abou-Khalil, MD, Principal Investigator, Affiliation: Vanderbilt University William Rosenfeld, MD, Principal Investigator, Affiliation: The Comprehensive Epilepsy Care Center for Children & Adults Dorothee Kasteleijn-Nolst Trenite, MD, PhD, Principal Investigator, Affiliation: The Comprehensive Epilepsy Care Center for Children & Adults
Summary
We are trying to learn if small changes in the amount of a valproate in the blood (given
through an IV) will change the way the brain reacts to flashing lights.
Clinical Details
Official title: Effect of Small Changes in Plasma Valproic Acid Concentration on the Photoparoxysmal Response
Study design: Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment, Masking: Single Blind (Subject), Primary Purpose: Treatment
Primary outcome: Analysis of total change in SPR from baseline to highest VPA conc., for each patient, averaged across patients, determines overall efficacy of VPA.
Detailed description:
Photosensitive epilepsy is a form of epilepsy that is considered to have a genetic basis in
most instances. It is a reflex type of epilepsy. Patients with this condition exhibit
epileptic activity patterns (called photoparoxysmal response-PPR) on their EEG during
intermittent photic stimulation with certain flash frequencies.
Specific Aims
1. To determine the extent of the pharmacodynamic effect of small changes in total and
free VPA concentration via constant infusion of intravenous sodium valproate within the
same photosensitive epilepsy patient.
2. To determine the change in total and free VPA concentration required to achieve maximal
effect on PPR in patients with photosensitive epilepsy.
Hypothesis
1. Valproic acid (VPA) demonstrates differential pharmacodynamic effect on PPR with small
changes in VPA concentration (5-20 mg/L changes in total, or 0. 5 to 2 mg/L changes in
free VPA) within the same patient. In essence, the VPA concentration-response curve in
patients with photosensitive epilepsy is relatively steep.
2. Intravenously-administered VPA will demonstrate a reduction in standard photosensitive
range (SPR) or abolition of PPR for at least 80% of patients studied, when the entire
range of free VPA concentrations is considered.
Photosensitivity, defined as a PPR on intermittent photic stimulation (IPS), is found in
approximately 5% of all epileptic patients. Markedly photosensitive patients are usually
sensitive to IPS within clearly defined limits of flash frequency (mostly between 10-30 Hz).
This photosensitivity range, the difference between the highest and lowest flash rates that
consistently elicit a photoparoxysmal response (PPR), can be used as a quantitative measure
of photosensitivity.
Administration of some antiepileptic drugs (AEDS) can diminish or even abolish PPR. With a
standard set of tested frequencies, a standard photosensitive range (SPR) can be used to
measure drug effect on photosensitivity. Combined with blood level monitoring, the model
offers information about actual pharmacodynamic effect as measured with IPS related to the
changes in blood levels.
The standardized IPS procedure includes delivery of short (5 second-) trains of flashes.
The stimulation starts with the lowest frequencies (which usually do not produce a PPR) only
up to the limits of the photosensitivity range (the threshold frequencies for which the
patient shows an epileptiform EEG response). After that the stimulation starts again with
the highest frequencies (which also do not produce a PPR) down to the frequency that
produces a definite PPR.
The photic stimulator will be manually controlled for all stimulations in order to abort the
stimulation when a clear PPR is elicited. With all stimulations, there is simultaneous
recording of the EEG and direct observation of the patient for clinical changes. With all
the safety measures in place, the likelihood of provoking prominent clinical seizures is
extremely low.
Eligibility
Minimum age: 15 Years.
Maximum age: 65 Years.
Gender(s): Both.
Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:
- Male or female patients
- Aged 15 to 65 years
- Patients with a diagnosis of epilepsy for which they are either taking up two AEDs,
not including VPA/divalproex, or no AEDs
- Patients with a reproducible IPS-induced photo-paroxysmal responses of at least 7
SPR-EEG units as measured at two different time points in the day (pm screening Study
Visit 1 and am of Visit 2).
- Are in good health (with the exception of epilepsy).
- Able and willing to provide written informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Patients not exhibiting a photo-paroxysmal-EEG response
- Patients with active psychogenic seizures
- Women who are pregnant or lactating
- Women of reproductive potential who do not agree to use effective birth-control
methods during the study and for one week after receiving study drug.
- Patients taking any dosage form of VPA/divalproex within 4 weeks prior to the study
- Patients taking more than two concomitant AEDs
- Patients with any clinically significant laboratory abnormality, which in the opinion
of the investigator, will exclude the patient from the study
- Patients who are suffering from active liver disease indicated by abnormal liver
function tests greater than three times the upper limit of normal (AST and ALT),
patients with porphyria, or patients with a family history of severe hepatic
dysfunction
- Patients with a history of alcoholism, drug abuse, or drug addiction (within the past
12 months)
- Patients with a history of sensitivity or allergic reaction to valproate / divalproex
- Patients who have a medical history which would contraindicate sodium valproate (VPA)
administration
- Patients who have participated in any other trials involving an investigational
product or device within 30 days of screening.
- Patients with clinically significant ECG abnormalities, as judged by the PI, at
screening visit
- Patients with such poor intravenous access that the insertion of two intravenous
catheters (one for sodium valproate infusion and one, in a contralateral arm vein,
for serial blood sampling) for a 12-hour period is not possible.
- Patients who received benzodiazepines within one week of study initiation
- Status epilepticus within one year of screening
- Generalized tonic-clonic seizure within 24 hours of photic stimulation procedure
Locations and Contacts
The Comprehensive Epilepsy Care Center for Children & Adults, Chesterfield, Missouri 63017, United States
Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
Additional Information
Starting date: December 2007
Last updated: March 21, 2011
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