Safety and Efficacy of Topiramate in Neonates With Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy Treated With Hypothermia — NeoNATI  

Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy Clinical Trial

Official title: Safety and Efficacy of Oral Topiramate in Neonates With Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy Treated With Hypothermia: a Pilot Study of the Neonatal Neuroprotection of Asphyxiated Tuscan Infants (NeoNATI) Network

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine whether the administration of topiramate to newborns with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy potentiates the neuroprotective effect of treatment with hypothermia.

Clinical Trial Description

Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, due to perinatal asphyxia, is one of the leading causes of cerebral palsy, whose incidence, despite improvements in perinatal practice and neonatal care, has remained essentially unchanged over the recent past decades. It occurs approximately in 2-3 newborns every 1000 live births with a mortality rate of 10% for mild degrees and 60% for severe degrees. About 30% of survivors with mild hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and 100% with severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy exhibit variable degrees of neurological disability.

Several studies have demonstrated the therapeutic effects of whole-body or selective head cooling to treat neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Mild hypothermia, (rectal or esophageal temperature 33-34°C), started within 6 h after birth and protracted for 48-72 h, can significantly improve primary outcome measures such as death or disability at 18 months or improve the neurological outcome in survivors. Consequently, mild hypothermia is at present recommended for the treatment of moderate degrees of encephalopathy.

Topiramate an anticonvulsant agent widely used in adults and children, has been demonstrated to posses neuroprotective properties against hypoxic ischemic brain damage, both in vitro and in animal models and has been included in neuroprotective strategies for ischemic stroke and neonatal hypoxic-ischemic cerebral injury. Recently, topiramate treatment in asphyxiated newborns has been reported safe.

Aim of the present study is to confirm the safety and to evaluate whether the association of topiramate enhances the neuroprotective properties of hypothermia for the treatment of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. ;

Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Safety/Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Single Blind (Outcomes Assessor), Primary Purpose: Treatment

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Brain Diseases
• Brain Ischemia
• Hypothermia
• Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain
• Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy
• Ischemia

• NCT number: NCT01241019
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: Azienda Ospedaliero, Universitaria Meyer
• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 2
• Start date: February 2010
• Completion date: December 2013