Low Frequency Electrical Stimulation of the Fornix in Intractable Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (MTLE)

NCT ID: NCT02383407

Last Updated: 2023-06-26

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 6 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2013-12-31
• Study Completion Date: 2019-01-31

Brief Summary

The primary aim of the current proposal is to evaluate safety and tolerability, in terms of neuropsychological effects of low frequency electrical stimulation of the fornix (LFSF) in participants with medically-intractable Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. Secondary aims include evaluation of psychiatric changes, seizure frequency, and quality of life during LFSF.

Detailed Description

Low frequency stimulation is an attractive, uninvestigated method for treatment of intractable epilepsy. Preliminary animal and human data suggest safety and remarkable efficacy of Low frequency stimulation (LFS) in epilepsy. In addition, the duty cycle of LFS is very low, implying less electric current injection, with less charge density on the target tissue and electrodes, and longer battery life. The current project is a classic translational, single-blinded, randomized research project, demonstrating a clear path from the laboratory to bedside. If successful, this new therapy will be of great value to patients with medically and surgically intractable Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (MTLE).

The study is expected to last approximately 5 years, from enrollment of the first patient to completion of the final subject, taking into consideration attrition and otherwise-eligible subjects who will not elect to participate. Once the study is completed, and enrolled participants have completed all required elements of the protocol, a final report will be submitted to the FDA. Participants may also discontinue their participation in the study, if they wish, at any time.

Conditions

Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Stimulation group 2 Hz

Patient will be randomized to a stimulation group of 2 Hz using Medtronic deep brain stimulation device

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Medtronic Deep Brain Stimulation

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Stimulation group 5 Hz

Patient will be randomized to a stimulation group of 5 Hz using Medtronic deep brain stimulation device

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Medtronic Deep Brain Stimulation

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Interventions

Medtronic Deep Brain Stimulation

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Participants are between the ages of 18 -65 years of age
• Participants must have had a non-invasive video-EEG monitoring revealing seizure semiology and ictal EEG consistent with unilateral or bilateral MTLE
• Participants must have tried and failed two trials of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs)
• Participants may have lesional or non lesional hippocampi, as evidenced by brain MRI acquired within the previous two years
• Participants are prescribed and taking 1-4 AEDs at the time of study entry
• Study participants will have intractable (MTLE) with a seizure frequency of at least 1/month averaged over the preceding 6 months prior to enrollment, including maximum seizure-freedom periods of no more than 60 days.
• Participants must have a platelet count greater than 125,000 per cubic millimeter and prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) within normal limits at the visit prior to surgery

Exclusion Criteria

• Progressive neurological or medical diseases, such as brain tumors or neurodegenerative disease or cancer
• Non-compliance with antiepileptic medications as demonstrated by the medical record
• Any conditions interfering with electrode implantation
• Any non-epileptic seizures
• Inability or unwillingness to complete neuropsychological tests or complete seizure diaries
• Current drug or alcohol use or dependence that, in the opinion of the site investigator, would interfere with adherence to study requirements
• Pregnant, or planning to become pregnant*
• Participation in another research trial where the participant was treated with another investigational drug or device within 30 days prior to enrollment of study
• Intelligence Quotient showing a general ability Quotient of less than 70. The score excludes the contribution of working memory and processing speed (which are areas of cognitive functioning that are vulnerable to numerous influences including seizures and fatigue and effects of AEDs)
• Inability or unwillingness of individual to give written informed consent
• Participants who have changes to their antiepileptic medications during the baseline phase (as they will need to repeat the baseline phase)
• Subjects with history of status epilepticus within the preceding year
• History of psychiatric illness necessitating hospitalizations
• Subjects who have any of the following implanted devices: aneurysm clips, cardiac pacemaker or defibrillator, cochlear implant, spinal cord, DBS, or vagal nerve stimulator
• Co-morbid conditions that would interfere with study stimulation activities or response to treatment, which may include:

• Neoplasm with life expectancy < 5 years
• Severe chronic pulmonary disease
• Local, systemic acute or chronic infectious illness
• Life threatening cardiac arrhythmias
• Severe collagen vascular disorder
• Kidney failure or other major organ system failures

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 65 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

George Washington University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Mohamad Koubeissi

MD, PI

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

GW Medical Faculty Associates

Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States

Countries

United States

References

Koubeissi MZ, Joshi S, Eid A, Emami M, Jaafar N, Syed T, Foreman PJ, Sheth A, Amdur R, Bou Nasif M, Puente AN, Aly R, Chen H, Becker A, Gholipour T, Makke Y, Elmashad A, Gagnon L, Durand DM, Gaillard WD, Shields DC. Low-frequency stimulation of a fiber tract in bilateral temporal lobe epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav. 2022 May;130:108667. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2022.108667. Epub 2022 Mar 26.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 35344808 (View on PubMed)

Provided Documents

Document Type: Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Document Type: Informed Consent Form

View Document

Related Links

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35344808/

PubMed

Other Identifiers

111239

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id