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| ID | Type | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| U1111-1318-1599 | Other Identifier | WHO ICTRP |
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The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if short courses (7 days) of oral prednisolone are as effective as longer courses (14 days) in treating Infantile Epileptic Spasms Syndrome (IESS) in infants. The main questions it aims to answer are:
Participants will:
Study Title: Comparison of Short (7-Day) versus Long (14-Day) Courses of Oral Prednisolone in the Treatment of Infantile Epileptic Spasms Syndrome (IESS)
Study Overview: This is a clinical trial designed to compare the efficacy and safety of two treatment regimens using oral prednisolone for infants with Infantile Epileptic Spasms Syndrome (IESS). The study aims to evaluate the impact of treatment duration (7 days vs. 14 days) on spasm resolution, relapse rates, and developmental outcomes in infants with IESS. Participants will be randomized into two treatment arms to receive either a 7-day or 14-day course of oral prednisolone, and they will be followed for a year to assess outcomes related to spasm control, relapse, adverse effects, and long-term development.
Study Population: The study will include infants diagnosed with IESS, aged 3 to 24 months, who are receiving care at participating clinical sites. Eligibility criteria ensure the inclusion of infants with confirmed spasms, with or without known aetiology, and those who have not previously received systemic treatment for IESS.
Objectives:
Methodology:
Randomization: Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either 7 days or 14 days of oral prednisolone, with blinding for the treatment duration.
Treatment Regimen:
Adverse Event Monitoring: Adverse events will be tracked throughout the trial, with particular attention to common side effects associated with prednisolone use, including irritability, weight gain, and gastric irritation. Serious adverse events will be carefully documented and managed.
Follow-Up: Follow-up visits will be conducted at 7 days, 14 days, 28 days, 42 days, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months to monitor spasm control, relapse, and developmental progress. At 24 months, a comprehensive developmental assessment will be conducted to evaluate the long-term effects of the treatment.
Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria:
Data Collection:
Baseline Data: Clinical history, imaging (CT or MRI), and EEG results will be collected to help categorize participants into known or undetermined aetiology groups. A metabolic screening will be conducted for infants with undetermined aetiology.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| treatment arm A | Experimental | The initial phase of the intervention involves administering prednisolone orally at a dosage of 10 mg, four times daily (40 mg/day) for 7 days. This will be followed by a tapering regimen over 15 days (~2 weeks) as outlined below: 10 mg three times daily - 5 days 10 mg twice daily - 5 days 10 mg daily - 5 days The second phase of the intervention begins at the end of 15 days, where a prolonged tapering of prednisolone at a low dose (<0.4 mg/kg per day) will be administered as 10 mg once daily, twice a week, for an additional 10 weeks. |
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| treatment arm B | Active Comparator | Prednisone will be administered orally at a dose of 10 mg, four times daily (40 mg/day) for 14 days. This is the standard therapy currently given to children with IESS in Sri Lanka. This will be followed by a tapering regimen over 15 days (~2 weeks) as outlined below: 10 mg three times daily - 5 days 10 mg twice daily - 5 days 10 mg daily - 5 days No additional tapering will be implemented. |
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| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short-Duration Oral Prednisolone with Extended Tapering | Drug | In treatment arm A, oral prednisolone will be administered in tablet form (5 mg strength) as follows: an initial phase of 10 mg four times daily (total 40 mg/day) for 7 days, followed by a 15-day tapering phase-10 mg three times daily for 5 days, 10 mg twice daily for 5 days, and 10 mg once daily for 5 days. After tapering, a prolonged low-dose maintenance phase will be implemented, where 10 mg is given once daily twice a week for an additional 10 weeks. This regimen is designed to test whether a shorter high-dose course, combined with extended low-dose maintenance, can provide equivalent control of infantile epileptic spasms syndrome while reducing the adverse effects associated with longer high-dose therapy, compared to the standard 14-day high-dose regimen (treatment arm B). |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Electroclinical Remission at Day 14 and Day 28 | This primary outcome measure compares the efficacy of the 7-day versus 14-day oral prednisolone regimens. Electroclinical remission is defined as (1) spasm control-no clinically recognizable spasms for a minimum of 24 consecutive hours as recorded by the caregiver-and (2) EEG remission-disappearance of hypsarrhythmia with the BASED score improved to 3 or less on a standardized 30-minute sleep EEG (with 5 minutes of wakefulness). | Assessed at 14 days and 28 days after treatment initiation. |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Long-Term Spasm Control | This measure evaluates sustained spasm control by documenting the absence of any visible spasms (as observed by caregivers) for at least 72 hours on the day of assessment. It is used to compare the durability of the two treatment regimens over an extended follow-up period. | Assessed at 42 days, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months post-treatment. |
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Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
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| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Jithangi Wanigasinghe, MD, MPhil | Department of Paediatrics at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka | Principal Investigator |
| Carukshi Arambepola, MSc, MD | Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka | Principal Investigator |
| Shalini Sri Ranganathan, MD, PhD | Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka | Principal Investigator |
| Nimesha Gamhewage, MD, DCH | Department of Paediatrics, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka | Principal Investigator |
| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sirimavo Bandaranayake Specialized Children's Hospital | Peradeniya | Central Province | 20400 | Sri Lanka | ||
Since this clinical trial involves infants, who belong to a vulnerable population, strict ethical considerations have been incorporated to ensure data confidentiality and participant protection. All collected data will remain confidential and will be stored securely in a password-protected computer and locked storage, accessible only to the investigators. There is no plan to share individual participant data (IPD).
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Randomized (1:1), single-blinded, multi-centre, parallel-group clinical trial.
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Both the outcome assessor (MBBS-qualified research assistant) and the data analyst will be blinded to the treatment arms. By implementing these measures, the risk of bias is minimized, and the credibility of the study results is enhanced, ensuring that the conclusions drawn from the data are based solely on the observed effects of the treatments without any influence from knowledge of the treatment allocations.
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| Standard Oral Prednisolone Regimen with Tapering | Drug | Prednisone oral tablets, 10 mg, administered four times daily (40 mg/day) for 14 days, followed by a tapering phase over 15 days: 10 mg three times daily for 5 days, 10 mg twice daily for 5 days, and 10 mg once daily for 5 days. No further tapering will be implemented after the initial 14-day treatment period. This regimen represents the standard therapy for Infantile Spasms in Sri Lanka. |
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| Spasm Relapse Rate and Time to Relapse | This outcome captures the relapse rate, defined as the reappearance of clinical spasms in conjunction with the return of hypsarrhythmia on EEG (BASED score of 4 or above), after initial remission. It also records the duration of spasm freedom until the first relapse, providing information on both the frequency and timing of relapse events. | Evaluated continuously over the 12-month follow-up period. |
| Developmental Outcome at 24 Months | Neurodevelopmental progress is assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (3rd edition). The measure records deviations from the normative mean (100) across domains (cognition, language, motor skills, social-emotional, and adaptive behavior) and examines correlations with spasm control and relapse status between the treatment arms. | Assessed at 24 months following treatment initiation. |
| Evolution of Epilepsy | This outcome measure tracks the emergence or evolution of other seizure types or epilepsy syndromes beyond infantile spasms. Epilepsy is defined as the occurrence of two or more unprovoked seizures (other than spasms) in a previously spasm-free child. Comparisons between treatment groups will provide insight into long-term seizure evolution. | Assessed at 12 months post-treatment. |
| Teaching Hospital Anuradhapura |
| Anuradhapura |
| North Central Province |
| 50000 |
| Sri Lanka |
| Teaching Hospital - Jaffna | Jaffna | Northern Province | 40000 | Sri Lanka |
| Teaching Hospital - Karapitiya | Galle | Southern Province | 80000 | Sri Lanka |
| Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children | Colombo | Western Province | 00800 | Sri Lanka |
| Colombo South Teaching Hospital | Kalubowila | Western Province | 10350 | Sri Lanka |
| Colombo North Teaching Hospital | Ragama | Western Province | 11010 | Sri Lanka |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D013036 | Spasms, Infantile |
| D012008 | Recurrence |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D004829 | Epilepsy, Generalized |
| D004827 | Epilepsy |
| D001927 | Brain Diseases |
| D002493 | Central Nervous System Diseases |
| D009422 | Nervous System Diseases |
| D000073376 | Epileptic Syndromes |
| D020969 | Disease Attributes |
| D010335 | Pathologic Processes |
| D013568 | Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms |
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