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

NCT ID: NCT07072624

Last Updated: 2025-08-06

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

PHASE4

Total Enrollment

1260 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-07-23

Study Completion Date

2028-03-15

Brief Summary

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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.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Seizures Traumatic Brain Injuries Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Patients

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

PREVENTION

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Participants Investigators

Study Groups

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Phenytoin

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Phenytoin

Intervention Type DRUG

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

Levetiracetam

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Levetiracetam

Intervention Type DRUG

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.

Placebo

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Placebo

Intervention Type DRUG

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.

Interventions

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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

Intervention Type 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.

Intervention Type 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.

Intervention Type DRUG

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. Patients of severe blunt TBI with GCS score less than 10.
2. Patients with GCS of more than 10 in the presence of computed tomographic imaging findings consistent with brain injury: subarachnoid hemorrhage \[SAH\], subdural hematoma \[SDH\], epidural hematoma \[EDH\], intracerebral hemorrhage \[ICH\], or diffuse axonal injury \[DAI\], depressed skull fracture.
3. Patients with penetrating injury.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Females of childbearing age with urine pregnancy test positive.
2. Devastating brain injury with expected or confirmed brain death within 48 hours of hospital admission,
3. Prehospital use of anticonvulsants
4. Development of seizures before enrolment.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

70 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Indian Council of Medical Research

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role collaborator

Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences,Lucknow

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Jaskaran Singh Gosal

Associate Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Dr Apinderpreet Singh Additional Professor, MCh Neurosugery

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh

Dr Kamlesh Bhaisora Additional Professor, MCh Neurosugery

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences,Lucknow

Locations

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Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research

Chandigarh, Punjab, India

Site Status RECRUITING

AIIMS Jodhpur

Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India

Site Status RECRUITING

Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences

Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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India

Central Contacts

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Dr Jaskaran Singh Gosal Associate Professor, MCh Neurosurgery

Role: CONTACT

91 6283475891

Dr Shoban Babu Varthya Associate Professor, MD Pharmacology

Role: CONTACT

91 8437726777

Facility Contacts

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Dr Apinderpreet Singh Additional Professor, MCh Neurosurgery

Role: primary

+91 9914207338

Bikash Medhi, MD

Role: backup

+91 9815409652

Jaskaran S Gosal, MCh

Role: primary

+91 6283475891

Shoban B Varthya, MD

Role: backup

+91 8437726777

Dr Kamlesh bhaisora Additional Professor, MCh Neurosurgery

Role: primary

+91 8004904457

Raghavendra Lingaiah, MD

Role: backup

+91 9968868075

References

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Kousar S, Wafai ZA, Wani MA, Jan TR, Andrabi KI. Clinical relevance of genetic polymorphism in CYP2C9 gene to pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of phenytoin in epileptic patients: validatory pharmacogenomic approach to pharmacovigilance. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2015 Jul;53(7):504-16. doi: 10.5414/CP202112.

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PMID: 25943175 (View on PubMed)

Chang WC, Hung SI, Carleton BC, Chung WH. An update on CYP2C9 polymorphisms and phenytoin metabolism: implications for adverse effects. Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol. 2020 Aug;16(8):723-734. doi: 10.1080/17425255.2020.1780209. Epub 2020 Jul 16.

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Dibbens LM, Hodgson BL, Helbig KL, Oliver KL, Mulley JC, Berkovic SF, Scheffer IE. Rare protein sequence variation in SV2A gene does not affect response to levetiracetam. Epilepsy Res. 2012 Sep;101(3):277-9. doi: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2012.04.007. Epub 2012 Apr 30.

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Other Identifiers

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IIRPIG-2023-0001210

Identifier Type: OTHER_GRANT

Identifier Source: secondary_id

AIIMS/IEC/2024/4889

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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