Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2026
08:28
Methods for ECG Evaluation of Indicators of Cardiac Risk, and Susceptibility to Aconitine-induced Arrhythmias in Rats Following Status Epilepticus
Published on: April 5, 2011
A prehospital randomized trial in convulsive status epilepticus
Vincent Navarro1, Christelle Dagron, Sophie Demeret
1AP-HP, Epilepsy Unit, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, 47 boulevard de l’Hôpital, Paris Cedex 13, France. vincent.navarro@psl.aphp.fr
Epilepsia
|October 5, 2011
Summary
This clinical trial investigates if adding levetiracetam to clonazepam improves treatment for generalized convulsive status epilepticus (GCSE). Researchers aim to determine if this combination offers better seizure cessation rates compared to clonazepam alone.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Emergency Medicine
- Clinical Pharmacology
Background:
- Generalized convulsive status epilepticus (GCSE) is a medical emergency requiring prompt and effective treatment.
- Current therapeutic strategies for GCSE may require improvement to enhance patient outcomes.
- The need for novel and effective add-on therapies for refractory GCSE is critical.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of intravenous levetiracetam as an add-on therapy to clonazepam for the treatment of GCSE.
- To compare the effectiveness of clonazepam plus levetiracetam versus clonazepam alone in achieving seizure cessation.
- To assess the safety and tolerability of this combination therapy in a prehospital setting.
Main Methods:
- A phase III, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial design.
- Inclusion of adult patients experiencing GCSE lasting longer than 5 minutes.
- Administration of either clonazepam with levetiracetam or clonazepam with placebo, with seizure cessation within 15 minutes as the primary outcome.
Main Results:
- The study is ongoing and currently recruiting participants.
- Primary outcome is the percentage of patients achieving cessation of convulsions within 15 minutes.
- Data on efficacy and safety are yet to be fully collected and analyzed.
Conclusions:
- The findings of this trial will inform optimal therapeutic strategies for GCSE.
- Levetiracetam in combination with clonazepam may represent a promising new treatment option for GCSE.
- This study contributes valuable data to the management of prolonged seizures in emergency settings.
Related Concept Videos
01:13Seizures: Classification
Epilepsy is primarily characterized by unpredictable seizures, either provoked by an identifiable factor, such as injury or illness, or unprovoked, occurring spontaneously without apparent cause.
Seizures are typically classified into two main categories: focal and generalized seizures.
Focal Seizures
Focal seizures originate from specific regions of the brain. These seizures are further sub-classified into two types:
Seizures are typically classified into two main categories: focal and generalized seizures.
Focal Seizures
Focal seizures originate from specific regions of the brain. These seizures are further sub-classified into two types:
01:30Electroconvulsive Therapy
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), or shock therapy, remains a critical biomedical intervention for severe, treatment-resistant depression. While its origins can be traced back to Hippocrates' observations that malaria-induced convulsions alleviated mental illness, modern ECT has evolved significantly from its earlier, more primitive applications. First introduced in 1938 by Ugo Cerletti and his colleagues, ECT involves inducing controlled seizures using electrical currents. In its early years,...
01:25Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation IV: Pharmacological Management
Pharmacologic intervention is crucial in treating cardiac arrest patients during ACLS or Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support. The ACLS algorithms guide the administration of specific drugs based on the patient's cardiac arrest rhythm, which includes pulseless ventricular tachycardia (VT), ventricular fibrillation (VF), asystole, and pulseless electrical activity (PEA).EpinephrineIndication: Epinephrine is the first-line drug for all cardiac arrest rhythms.Mechanism of Action: Epinephrine...
01:24Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview
Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease marked by recurrent, unpredictable seizures. These seizures are caused by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain, leading to behavior, sensation, or consciousness alterations. They can also cause transient impairment of awareness, interfering with daily activities.
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...
01:20Seizures l: Introduction
Understanding seizures and epilepsy relies on key definitions that help in recognizing, classifying, and managing these disorders. These definitions provide a framework for recognizing, classifying, and managing seizure disorders.DefinitionsA seizure is a sudden, abnormal burst of electrical activity in the brain that can cause changes in awareness, movement, sensation, or behavior, depending on the area involved. Epilepsy is a chronic condition characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures,...