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Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC)
Autism Research Database
Project Element Element Description

Project Title

Project Title

Preventing Epilepsy using Vigabatrin in Infants with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex

Principal Investigator

Principal Investigator

Bebin, Martina

Description

Description

The PREVeNT Trial is a phase IIb randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial with vigabatrin in infants with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC). The primary objective of the study is the developmental impact of early versus delayed treatment with vigabatrin at 24 months of age based on the cognitive assessment score of the Bayley-III. The secondary study objectives will focus on the effectiveness of early versus delayed treatment with vigabatrin in clinical seizure prevention and the prevalence of drug resistant epilepsy by the age of 24 months. Also, the impact of early versus delayed vigabatrin treatment on receptive communication, expressive communication, fine and gross motor skills, and risk of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The outcome measures for this secondary objective will be subdomain scores of the Bayley-III, Vineland-II, Beery Visual Motor Integration (VMI), Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT), Differential Ability Scales-II (DAS-II) and ADOS2 at 24 months. Additional exploratory analysis will be completed at 36 months to access changes observed at 24 months are consistent with those seen at 36 months and indicative of long-term outcome. In addition, analysis will be done to determine the safety of vigabatrin as a preventative treatment for seizures in this TSC study population. The study will also confirm the feasibility of using EEG biomarkers to identify TSC infants at risk for developing epilepsy. The early diagnosis of TSC is possible because of the advances in technology such as prenatal ultrasound and often the diagnosis is now made prenatally or in early infancy before the onset of epilepsy due to non- neurological findings [Datta et al. 2008]. As a result there is an appropriatewindow of opportunity to identify at- risk patients and initiate potential antiepileptogenic treatment prior to the onset of clinical seizures and subsequent epilepsy. The prevalence of medically-refractory epilepsy and associated intellectual impairment, autism spectrum disorders, and mental health disabilities in this population is well documented, [Chu-Shore et al 2010], justifying the initiation of therapy with potential side effects in a presymptomatic stage in TSC patients. The central hypothesis of this proposal is that early identification of EEG biomarkers and presymptomatic treatment with vigabatrin in infants with TSC can prevent or lower the risk of developing infantile spasms and/or refractory seizures. This preventative approach would promote more favorable cognitive, behavioral, developmental, and psychiatric outcomes.

Funder

Funder

National Institutes of Health

Funding Country

Funding Country

United States

Fiscal Year Funding

Fiscal Year Funding

1488631

Current Award Period

Current Award Period

2016-2021

Strategic Plan Question

Strategic Plan Question

Question 4: Which Treatments and Interventions Will Help?

Funder’s Project Link

Funder’s Project Link

NIH RePORTER Project Page Go to website disclaimer

Institution

Institution

University of Alabama At Birmingham

Institute Location

Institute Location

United States

Project Number

Project Number

1U01NS092595-01A1

Government or Private

Government or Private

Government

History/Related Projects

History/Related Projects

N/A

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