Testing the Epilepsy Drug Perampanel to Prevent Seizures After Cardiac Arrest Resuscitation

Principal Investigator: Dr. Edilberto Amorim​

Condition: Seizures following cardiac arrest resuscitation

Research Description: More than 350,000 Americans have a cardiac arrest outside of a hospital every year and only 10% survive to hospital discharge following resuscitation. Importantly, people of color may have a mortality rate twice the general population. Brain injury is the main cause of death and disability for patients surviving cardiac arrest resuscitation, and seizures are diagnosed in up to one-third of these patients. Seizures associated with severe muscle jerks (myoclonic seizures) are one of the most common seizure types after cardiac arrest. Despite being common, myoclonic seizures are usually unresponsive to treatment and most patients with this seizure type die. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial will evaluate the safety and feasibility of using perampanel, a drug approved for epilepsy treatment, to prevent seizures in cardiac arrest patients following resuscitation. This study will help determine the safety and feasibility of seizure prophylaxis after cardiac arrest resuscitation and, if successful, will provide preliminary data for future clinical trials targeting this serious complication.

Funding Partners: Cures Within Reach

CWR funding role: Primary funder