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Phenytoin VS levetiracetam for seizure prophylaxis in secondary seizure. Kristy Wu Medicine Rotation Western University of Health Sciences College of Pharmacy, PSIII Preceptor: Doreen Pon, PharmD. Objectives. Introduce patient case
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Phenytoin VS levetiracetam for seizure prophylaxis in secondary seizure Kristy Wu Medicine Rotation Western University of Health Sciences College of Pharmacy, PSIII Preceptor: Doreen Pon, PharmD
Objectives • Introduce patient case • Brief review of secondary CNS lymphoma and secondary seizure • Brief review of phenytoin and levetiracetam • Discuss the clinical trials of phenytoin and levetiracetam comparisons in seizure prophylaxis • Advantages of levetiracetam over phenytoin • Evaluation of the patient case
Patient Case RH is a 69 year-old male with aggressive diffuse large B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma who is being admitted for autologous stem cell transplantation with conditioning chemotherapy of BEAM (carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine, melphalan) HPI: • Diagnosed in 10/2009 • Bone marrow biopsy showed involvement with lymphoma on 10/14/2009 • The cytogenetics were normal • Had 3 cycles of R-CHOP with 3rd cycle given on 11/30/2009 • Developed new onset seizure on 12/15/2009 • MRI of the brain: mass in the right occipital lobe • Treated with phenytoin and dexamethasone • Received 2 cycles of high-dose methotrexate with cytarabine in 12/2009 and had complete remission
Patient Case • Brain MRI of 12/2009: 3 x 2.2 x 2.2 cm mass in the right occipital lobe extending toward the corpus callosum without midline shift or evidence of herniation
Patient Case • PMH • Type 2 DM • Hypertension • Hypercholesterolemia • Sleep apnea • Benign prostatic hypertrophy. • FH • There is no cancer history in the family • Father – heart problem; paternal uncle – heart problem; maternal grandfather – heart attack years ago
Patient Case • Medications • Phenytoin PO 500mg/400mg at bedtime alternating every other day • trazodone, buspirone, fluconazole, nystatin, acyclovir, ursodiol, famotidine, metformin, Flomax • Allergies: NKDA
Clinical Question • Can levetiracetam (Keppra®) be used as 1st line option for seizure prophylaxis in secondary seizure?
Secondary CNS lymphoma • ~ 10-30% of systemic lymphoma have secondary CNS involvement. • Almost all CNS lymphoma are non-Hodgkin B-cell tumors • Typically develops in the subcortical and subependymal white matter and the corpus striatum, and may extend to corpus callosum • Spinal cord is frequently affected • Clinical presentation is nonspecific, may involve focal neurologic impairment, headache, confusion and seizures. Gerstner ER, et al. Blood. Sep 2008;112(5):1658-61. Zee CS, Neuroradiology: A Study Guide. 1996:158-60.
Secondary Seizure • Symptomatic epilepsy • Secondary to known structural or metabolic diseases adversely affecting the brain • Disorders included: drug-induced, alcohol related, stroke, trauma, brain infection, neurosurgery, neoplasm, metabolic disorders, degenerative CNS conditions • Seizure due to CNS metastases: should receive anticonvulsive treatment with phenytoin World Health Organization. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs999/en/index.html Fauci, AS, et al. Harrison’s principles of internal medicine, 17th edition. Chap 270, Sec 4, Oncologic Emergencies.
Phenytoin • FDA indications: management of generalized tonic-clonic and complex partial seizures; prevention of seizures following head trauma/neurosurgery • Mechanism of Actions: • Neuronal sodium channel blocker • PK profile: • Absorption depends on the formulation • Highly protein bound: > 90% • Half-life: 12-36 hours (average 24 hours) • Elimination: dose-dependent; metabolized to inactive metabolite and excreted in the urine • Monitoring parameters: • Therapeutic plasma level: 10-20 mcg/mL • >20 mcg/mL: Far lateral nystagmus • >30 mcg/mL: 45° lateral gaze nystagmus and ataxia • >40 mcg/mL: Decreased mentation • >100 mcg/mL: Death Katzung, BG, et al. Basic & Clinical Pharmacology, 11th Edition. Chapter 24, Antiseizure Drugs.
Levetiracetam • FDA indications: Adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial onset, myoclonic, and/or primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures • Mechanism of Action: binds selectively to the synaptic vesicular protein SV2A • function of this protein is not understood • modifies the synaptic release of glutamate and GABA. • PK profile: • Oral absorption: rapid and unaffected by food • Protein bound: < 10% • Half-life: 6-8 hours • Elimination: 2/3 excreted unchanged in the urine • Monitoring parameters: - Renal adjustment is required Katzung, BG, et al. Basic & Clinical Pharmacology, 11th Edition. Chapter 24, Antiseizure Drugs.
Abbreviations and Terminologies • GCS = Glasgow coma score: trauma scoring; scored between 3-15; 3 being the worst and 15 the best • GOS = Glasgow outcome score: score for the long-term follow-up after severe brain injuries; scored between 1-5; 5 being the best outcome and 1 the worst. • GOSE • DRS = disability rating score; scored 1-20; • 1-3 (mild), 4-6 (moderate), 7-20(severe) • LEV = levetiracetam • PHT = phenytoin Teasdale G., Jennett B., LANCET (ii) 81-83, 1974. Center for outcome measurement in brain injury. http://www.tbims.org/combi/drs/drsprop.html
Levetiracetam versus phenytoin for seizure prophylaxis in severe traumatic brain injury • Design: Non-randomized, open label, historical control • Site: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center • Subjects: • Prospective cohort: 32 patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) 11/2006 – 12/2007 were admitted and received levetiracetam 500mg IV Q12H for the 1st 7 days after traumatic injury • Historical cohort from severe TBI database: 41 patients with TBI from 07/2005-06/2006 received phenytoin for 7 days after trauma. • Inclusion Diagnostic criteria: • GCS score of 3-8 • Hospital standard protocol: not defined in the study • Only patients who received an EEG examination were included in the analysis. Jones, K.E., et al. Neurosurg. Focus. Volume 25(4):E3, 2008
Results • Patient baseline characteristics: No significant differences • Patients with EEG examinations: 15/32 in the levetiracetam cohort vs. 12/41 in the phenytoin cohort • Levetiracetam cohort: total 19 EEG examinations • 4 patients had2 EEG studies • Phenytoin cohort: total 19 EEG examinations • 4 patients had 2 EEG studies • 1 patient had 3 EEG studies Jones, K.E., et al. Neurosurg. Focus. Volume 25(4):E3, 2008
Results Jones, K.E., et al. Neurosurg. Focus. Volume 25(4):E3, 2008
Prospective, Randomized, single-Blinded Comparative Trial of Intravenous Levetiracetam Versus Phenytoin for Seizure Prophylaxis • Design: prospective, single-center, randomized, single-blinded comparative trial • Site: University of Cincinnati hospital • Subjects: • Randomization occurred after admission up to 24 hours in the NSICU at 2:1 ratio of LEV to PHT • 52 patients was enrolled: 18 patients in the PHT arm and 34 patients in the LEV arm. • Inclusion diagnostic criteria: • Patients with severe TBI or subarachnoid hemorrhage admitted to the hospital < 24 hours prior to randomization • GCS score 3-8 or GCS motor score < 5 with abnormal admission CT scan showing intracranial pathology • Hemodynamically stable with sBP ≥90mmHg; at least 1 reactive pupil • ≥ 17 years of age Szaflarski JP, et al. Neurocrit Care. 2010 Apr;12(2):165-72.
Exclusion criteria: • No venous access • Spinal cord injury • History of or CT confirmation of previous brain injury • Hemodynamically unstable • Suspected anoxic events; other peripheral trauma likely result liver failure • Age < 17 yo • CI treatment with LEV or PHT • Intervention: • PHT group: loading dose of fos-PHT 20mg/kg PE IV, max of 2gm; maintenance dose (5mg/kg/day, IV Q12H). PHT serum levels check at days 2 and 6 after randomization and dose adjustments to maintain therapeutic serum levels of 10-20 mcg/mL. • LEV group: loading dose of 20mg/kg IV; maintenance dose (1gm, IV Q12H). Dose was adjusted to max 3gm/day if seizure occurred. Szaflarski JP, et al. Neurocrit Care. 2010 Apr;12(2):165-72.
Results • Baseline characteristics: no differences • There were no differences in early seizure occurrence between the PHT vs. LEV groups (3/18 vs. 5/34; P = 1.0) or death (4/18 vs. 14/34; P = 0.227) • There were no differences in PHT vs. LEV groups in GCS at 7 days (6 vs. 7; P = 0.58) and GOS at discharge (2 vs. 2; P = 0.33), 3 months (3 vs. 3; P = 0.61), and 6 months (3 vs. 3; P = 0.89) • LEV-treated patients experienced less worsening neurological status (P = 0.024) and GI problems (P = 0.043) • Tendency toward lower incidence of anemia in PHT group (P = 0.076) • Surviving patients treated with LEV experienced better outcomes than surviving patients treated with PHT including lower DRS at 3 and 6 months (P = 0.006 and P = 0.037) and higher GOSE at 6 months (P = 0.016). Szaflarski JP, et al. Neurocrit Care. 2010 Apr;12(2):165-72.
Studies have 6 months follow-up period • In Jones, et al., levetiracetam is associated with higher seizure tendency showing on EEGs than phenytoin. • Both levetiracetam and phenytoin do not have evidence in prevention of late epilepsy. • Comparisons in the studies were in IV formulation for 7-day use. • Efficacy of long-term use in PO formulation has not been compared.
Safety and feasibility of switching from phenytoin to levetiracetam monotherapy for glioma-related seizure control following craniotomy: a randomized phase II pilot study • Design: randomized phase II • Subjects: • Prior to randomization, patients were stratified into: no prior craniotomy and history of one craniotomy • Within each stratification group, patients were randomized in a 2:1 ratio to receive LEV or PHT • Inclusion diagnostic criteria: • Seizure history attributable to supratentorial glioma • PHT monotherapy for seizure prophylaxis • Planned craniotomy • Karnofosky performance scale of >70 • > 18 yo Lim, DA et al. J neurooncol 2009, 93:349-354
Exclusion Criteria • Non-glioma cancer • Pregnancy or breast-feeding • Seizures unrelated to the suspected glioma • Use AEDs other than PHT • >1 generalized seizure per day • Prior interstitial brachytherapy. • Intervention • PHT: serum levels confirmed at therapeutic range at postoperative day1 (POD1); PHT dose adjusted as needed. • LEV: started LEV 1000mg PO BID with 24 hours of surgery and PHT was tapered off as following: 100% of preoperative PHT regimen on POD0, 75% on POD1, 50% on POD2, and PHT was discontinued on POD3. • Primary end point: proportion of patients who were seizure free 6 months after tumor resection Lim, DA et al. J neurooncol 2009, 93:349-354
Results • 29 patients enrolled: 20 in LEV vs. 9 in PHT • Baseline characteristics: • majority of patients were male • Female: 6 in LEV vs. 0 in PHT • Seizure type at presentation: • Generalized: 8 in LEV vs. 3 in PHT • Simple partial: 6 in LEV vs. 1 in PHT • Complex partial: 1 in LEV vs. 4 in PHT Lim, DA et al. J neurooncol 2009, 93:349-354
Results Lim, DA et al. J neurooncol 2009, 93:349-354
Phenytoin • ADRs: blood dyscrasias, dermatologic reactions including toxic epidermal necrolysis and SJS, hepatotoxcicity, bradycardia, hypotension, cardiac arrhythmia, headache, insomnia, tremor, paresthesia; idosyncratic (gingival hyperplasia, hirsutism, coarse features) • DDIs with patient’s current medication: • CYP4A3 substrates: BusPirone, tamsulosin, trazodone • Fluconazole Lexi-comp.com
Levetiracetam • ADRs: Somnolence, ataxia, headache, Less common are complaints of agitation or anxiety, emotion labile Idiosyncratic reactions are rare. • Levetiracetam is not metabolized by CYP450 • DDIs with patient’s current medication: None Lexi-comp.com
Advantages of Levetiracetam over Phenytoin • Non-enzyme inducing AED • No serum level monitoring • Not induce drug fever or cutaneous hypersensitivity reactions • Less ADRs • Less DDIs • No food-drug interactions • IV:PO = 1:1
Back to Patient Case • Currently on Phenytoin PO 500mg/400mg at bedtime alternating every other day • Phenytoin serum level: • 3/8: 10.2 mcg/ml (corrected with albumin: 15 mcg/ml) • 3/15: 10.3 mcg/ml (corrected with albumin: 14.7 mcg/ml) • No seizure activity observed • Repeat MRI: not available
Reference • Fauci, AS, et al. Harrison’s principles of internal medicine, 17th edition (online version). Chapter 270, Section 4, Oncologic Emergencies. http://www.accessmedicine.com.proxy.westernu.edu/content.aspx?aID=2880754. Accessed 03/22/2010 • Gerstner ER, et al. CNS Hodgkin lymphoma. Blood. Sep 2008;112(5):1658-61. • Jones, K.E., et al. Levetiracetam versus phenytoin for seizure prophylaxis in severe traumatic brain injury. Neurosurg. Focus. Volume 25(4):E3, 2008 • Katzung, BG, et al. Basic & Clinical Pharmacology, 11th Edition. Chapter 24, Antiseizure Drugs.http://www.accessmedicine.com.proxy.westernu.edu/content.aspx?aID=4512306. Accessed 03/23/2010. • Lexi-comp.com • Lim, DA et al. Safety and feasibility of switching from phenytoin to levetiracetam monotherapy for glioma-related seizure control following craniotomy: a randomized phase II pilot study. Journal neurooncol 2009, 93:349-354. • Szaflarski JP, et al. Prospective, Randomized, single-Blinded Comparative Trial of Intravenous Levetiracetam Versus Phenytoin for Seizure Prophylaxis. Neurocrit care April 2010 (2):165-72 • Uptodate.com • Zee CS, Neuroradiology: A Study Guide. McGraw Hill 1996:158-60.