Hormone Profiles in Adults With Newly Diagnosed Epilepsy

NCT ID: NCT00137709

Last Updated: 2007-10-31

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: UNKNOWN
• Clinical Phase: PHASE4
• Total Enrollment: 80 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2004-11-30
• Study Completion Date: 2008-07-31

Brief Summary

Both sodium valproate and lamotrigine are currently used in the treatment of newly diagnosed epilepsy. Although they appear to have similar efficacy, they have different side effects, which have not been well studied. This study aims to compare one particular aspect of their possible side effects, namely whether they affect certain hormonal functions.

Detailed Description

Sodium valproate is an established antiepileptic drug used against a broad range of seizure types. Lamotrigine, a newer antiepileptic drug available since late 1980s, has a similar range of action and is approved as first-line treatment for epilepsy in the United States and many European countries as well as in Hong Kong. Recently, concern has been raised over the association between valproate treatment and polycystic ovarian syndrome, a condition characterised by multiple cysts in the ovaries in women and a range of hormonal and metabolic disturbances. Cross-sectional studies from Finland suggest that up to 40% of women treated with valproate have polycystic ovaries. Lamotrigine substitution for valproate has been reported to normalise these parameters in some patients. Elevated serum insulin and androgen levels have also been reported in over 50% of male patients taking valproate for epilepsy. However, such high incidence of hormonal abnormalities associated with valproate treatment has not been reproduced in studies conducted in other western populations. No similar studies in Chinese patients have been reported. In addition, these cross-sectional studies suffer from many potential confounding factors, such as previous treatment with other antiepileptic drugs, variation in duration of treatment, thus limiting the ability to establish a causal relationship.

This phase IV study aims to examine whether valproate treatment is associated with hormonal abnormalities in Chinese epilepsy patients. Newly diagnosed patients will be randomised to receive valproate or lamotrigine and their hormonal profiles measured prospectively for 12 months.

Conditions

Epilepsy

Keywords

epilepsy; hormone

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Interventions

Sodium valproate

Week 1 \& 2 - 200mg twice daily Week 3 onwards - 400mg twice daily

Intervention Type: DRUG

Lamotrigine

Week 1 - 25mg mane Week 2 - 25mg twice daily Week 3 - 25mg mane, 50mg nocte Week 4 onwards - 50mg twice daily

Intervention Type: DRUG

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Patients aged between 15 and 55
• Ethnically Chinese
• Newly diagnosed epilepsy requiring antiepileptic drug treatment; or patients previously treated with antiepileptic drugs but have withdrawn from medication for at least 1 year, and now require resumption of antiepileptic drug therapy due to seizure relapse.

Exclusion Criteria

• Post-menopausal women.
• Pregnant women.
• Women who have undergone oophorectomy.
• Women taking or have taken oral contraceptive pills in the previous 3 months.
• Women diagnosed with or suspected to have polycystic ovarian syndrome.
• Subjects with diabetes mellitus.
• Subjects receiving hormone replacement or glucocorticoids.
• Subjects receiving long-term warfarin.
• Subjects suffering from significant systemic diseases, or illnesses that interfere with pituitary-gonadal functions.
• Subjects with a progressive or degenerative neurological disorder.
• Subjects who are unable to take their medication reliably.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 15 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 55 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Chinese University of Hong Kong

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Principal Investigators

Patrick Kwan, FHKAM

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Chinese University of Hong Kong

Locations

United Christian Hospital

Kowloon, , Hong Kong

Site Status: RECRUITING

Prince of Wales Hospital

Shatin, , Hong Kong

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

Hong Kong

Central Contacts

Patrick Kwan, FHKAM

Role: CONTACT

Phone: 852-2632-2211

Email: patrickkwan@cuhk.edu.hk

Evelyn Yu, MSc

Role: CONTACT

Phone: 852-2632-3856

Email: evelyn.yu@cuhk.edu.hk

Facility Contacts

Ping Wing Ng, FHKAM

Role: primary

Patrick Kwan, FHKAM

Role: primary

Evelyn Yu, MSc

Role: backup

Other Identifiers

CRE-2004.399

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id