NCT02631759

Brief Summary

Haemorrhagic strokes represent about 10-15 % of all strokes and 30,000 cases per year in France. The 30-day death rate ranges from 30 to 55% (50% of deaths occurring within 48 hours). Currently, no urgent medical or surgical treatment has been shown to improve functional or vital prognosis. Clinical epileptic seizures frequency in acute intracerebral haemorrhage has been estimated between 4% and 16% but the occurrence of subclinical epileptic seizures (detected on the electroencephalogram (EEG) only) could be much more frequent (28 % to 40 %). Some studies have suggested that early repeated epileptic seizures may be associated with a worse neurological prognosis. Repeated epileptic seizures occurring in the acute phase may increase brain oedema, worsen, hypoxia and may lead to cellular death in the injured brain tissue. Thus, prevention of early epileptic seizures may improve neurological outcome. However, the efficacy of a systematic prophylactic antiepileptic treatment on clinical and subclinical epileptic seizures has not been evaluated in the setting of intracerebral haemorrhage. The current European guidelines recommend the use of antiepileptic drugs only when epileptic seizures occur. Primary objective: PEACH is a randomized controlled trial aiming at evaluating the impact of systematic prophylactic antiepileptic treatment with levetiracetam versus placebo in acute supratentorial spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage. The primary endpoint is the occurrence of at least one clinical or electrical epileptic seizure recorded on continuous 48h holter EEG. Secondary Objectives:This study also aims to assess: Ä The efficacy of prophylactic treatment with levetiracetam on the number of EEG seizures, on the total duration of epileptic seizures continuously recorded on EEG, on the occurrence of some paroxysmal EEG patterns, on the number of clinical seizures occurred during 72 hours of diagnosis, on the occurrence of early (day-0 to day-30 ) and late (from day-30 to 12 months) clinical seizures, on the functional prognosis at 3 , 6 and 12 months evaluated by the modified Rankin scale , on the cerebral oedema and mass effect evaluated by comparing the admission brain CT scan with the control CT scan performed at 72 hours, on the neurological status as assessed by the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale at 72 hours , 1 month and 3 months and on the quality of life measured by the Stroke impact Scale at 3, 6 and 12 months. Ä The frequency of side effects related to treatment with levetiracetam (anxiety and depression assessed by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale at 1 and 3 months) Sample Size: 104 patients will be recruited over 2 years.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
50

participants targeted

Target at below P25 for phase_3

Timeline
Completed

Started Oct 2016

Longer than P75 for phase_3

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

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Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

December 7, 2015

Completed
9 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

December 16, 2015

Completed
10 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

October 1, 2016

Completed
4.5 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

April 9, 2021

Completed
2 months until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

June 7, 2021

Completed
Last Updated

September 26, 2025

Status Verified

April 1, 2022

Enrollment Period

4.5 years

First QC Date

December 7, 2015

Last Update Submit

September 23, 2025

Conditions

Keywords

Acute intraCerebral Haemorrhage, Epileptic seizures, Lévétiracetam

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Occurrence of at least one clinical or electrical epileptic seizure recorded on continuous 48 hours holter EEG

    48 hours

Secondary Outcomes (4)

  • Occurrence of electroencephalographic signs

    48 hours

  • Number of EEG seizures

    48 hours

  • Total duration of epileptic seizures continuously recorded on EEG

    48 hours

  • occurrence of some paroxysmal EEG patterns

    48 hours

Other Outcomes (6)

  • Occurrence of early (day-0 to day-30 ) and late (from day-30 to 12 months) clinical seizures

    12 months

  • Functional prognosis at 3 , 6 and 12 months evaluated by the modified Rankin scale

    12 months

  • Cerebral oedema and mass effect evaluated by comparing the admission brain CT scan with the control CT scan performed at 72 hours

    72 hours

  • +3 more other outcomes

Study Arms (2)

Lévétiracetam

EXPERIMENTAL

52 patients will be recruited over 2 years in the experimental group

Drug: Lévétiracetam

Placebo

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

52 patients will be recruited over 2 years in the control group

Drug: Placebo

Interventions

Levetiracetam will be administered at 500mg / 12h through IV started within 24 hours after enrollment in the study for at least 48 hours and for up to 5 days, then a per os administration will be made out as soon as oral will be possible, at a dose of 500mg / 12h (1g / day in two divided doses ) . The total duration of treatment will be 1 month and 15 days taking into account the processing taking decay phase. The decay phase takes place in two phases: * A phase of 7 days of levetiracetam 250 mg every 12 hours ( morning and evening) * Then a phase of 7 days of levetiracetam 250 mg every 24 hours (evening).

Lévétiracetam

Placebo (NaCl 0,9%) will be administered at 500mg / 12h through IV started within 24 hours after enrollment in the study for at least 48 hours and for up to 5 days, then a per os administration will be made out as soon as oral will be possible, at a dose of 500mg / 12h (1g / day in two divided doses ) . The total duration of treatment will be 1 month and 15 days taking into account the processing taking decay phase. The decay phase takes place in two phases: * A phase of 7 days of placebo 250 mg every 12 hours ( morning and evening) * Then a phase of 7 days of placebo 250 mg every 24 hours (evening).

Placebo

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Age greater than 18 years with no upper age limit
  • Competent adult patient.
  • Patient affiliated to the French National Health Insurance.
  • Patient with supratentorial spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage diagnosed by CT or MRI
  • Early neurological symptoms less than 24 hours
  • NIHSS score on admission between 5 and 25
  • Informed consent given by the patient or his legal representative

You may not qualify if:

  • Inaugural Seizures ( at the onset of symptoms associated with intracerebral hemorrhage )
  • Other Intracerebral hemorrhage infratentorial , post-traumatic , related to a vascular malformation or an underlying tumor and secondarily hemorrhagic cerebral infarction
  • Current antiepileptic treatment when intracerebral hemorrhage , or a history of epilepsy
  • Modified Rankin Scale before intracerebral hemorrhage \> 1 (indicating a preexisting disability)
  • Serious illness which can affect the prognosis within 3 months
  • Severe renal impairment ( creatinine clearance \<30 ml / min)
  • Pregnancy, lactation
  • Known hypersensitivity to levetiracetam or other pyrrolidone derivatives , or any of the excipients.
  • Untreated severe depression , psychotic disorders
  • Lactose Intolerance
  • Patient under measuring socio- legal protection

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Department of functional neurology and epileptology

Lyon, France

Location

Related Publications (1)

  • Peter-Derex L, Philippeau F, Garnier P, Andre-Obadia N, Boulogne S, Catenoix H, Convers P, Mazzola L, Gouttard M, Esteban M, Fontaine J, Mechtouff L, Ong E, Cho TH, Nighoghossian N, Perreton N, Termoz A, Haesebaert J, Schott AM, Rabilloud M, Pivot C, Dhelens C, Filip A, Berthezene Y, Rheims S, Boutitie F, Derex L. Safety and efficacy of prophylactic levetiracetam for prevention of epileptic seizures in the acute phase of intracerebral haemorrhage (PEACH): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial. Lancet Neurol. 2022 Sep;21(9):781-791. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(22)00235-6.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Seizures

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Neurologic ManifestationsNervous System DiseasesSigns and SymptomsPathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

  • Laure Peter-Derex, MD

    Hospices Civils de Lyon

    STUDY DIRECTOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
phase 3
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

December 7, 2015

First Posted

December 16, 2015

Study Start

October 1, 2016

Primary Completion

April 9, 2021

Study Completion

June 7, 2021

Last Updated

September 26, 2025

Record last verified: 2022-04

Locations