Using perampanel to prevent seizures after cardiac arrest

PeRampanel fOr Status ePilEpticus pRophylaxis Post-cardiac Arrest

Phase 2 Interventional University of California, San Francisco · NCT06401707

This study is testing if the medication perampanel can help prevent seizures in patients who have survived a cardiac arrest and are in a coma.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 2
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment52 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of California, San Francisco Academic / other
Locations1 site (San Francisco, California)
Trial IDNCT06401707 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This pilot randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial aims to evaluate the safety and feasibility of using perampanel for preventing post-cardiac arrest status epilepticus (PCARSE) in patients who have experienced a non-traumatic cardiac arrest. The study will enroll comatose patients who have achieved return of spontaneous circulation within 45 minutes of arrest and will randomize them to receive either perampanel or a placebo after admission to the intensive care unit. The primary outcome will focus on the incidence of severe adverse events, while secondary endpoints will assess seizure incidence, frequency, and time to seizure control.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 and older who have experienced a non-traumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and are comatose upon ICU admission.

Not a fit: Patients with acute cerebral hemorrhage, severe kidney or liver impairment, or those diagnosed with seizures prior to the study will not benefit from this trial.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could significantly reduce the incidence of seizures and improve outcomes for patients recovering from cardiac arrest.

How similar studies have performed: While perampanel has been used in other contexts for seizure management, this specific application in critically ill cardiac arrest patients is novel and has not been extensively tested in prior studies.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Age ≥18 years old
* Non-traumatic, out-of-hospital cardiac arrest
* Comatose on admission - defined as not following commands
* Return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) within less than 45 minutes from the time of cardiac arrest (defined as the time of 911 or EMS (emergency medical services) witnessed arrest)
* Admission to the intensive care unit at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital

Exclusion Criteria:

* Acute cerebral hemorrhage or infarction
* Pregnancy
* Prisoner
* Severe kidney function impairment with creatinine clearance inferior to 30 ml/min
* Severe liver impairment with liver function tests five times above the upper limit of normal
* Electrographic or electroclinical seizures diagnosis using American Clinical Neurophysiology criteria confirmed by an epileptologist after cardiac arrest

Where this trial is running

San Francisco, California

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Heart ArrestSeizuresStatus Epilepticusheart arrestseizurestatus epilepticusprophylaxis
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.