CompletedPhase 1

Preventing Brain Injury in Infants With Congenital Heart Disease

United States24 participantsStarted 2011-03

Plain-language summary

Newborn babies with congenital heart disease often require surgery in the first month of life. The risks of brain damage from congenital heart disease and from the various corrective surgeries are high because of poor levels of oxygen reaching the brain. Topiramate is an anti-convulsant medication that protects brain cells from damage due to low amounts of oxygen in animal studies. The investigators hypothesize that giving topiramate to babies with congenital heart disease before and after surgery will decrease the amount of brain damage caused by the heart disease and/or the surgery to correct the heart disease.

Who can participate

Age range

2 Months

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Age less than 2 months * Cyanotic congenital heart disease requiring surgery Exclusion Criteria: * Genetic syndromes with high risk of neurodevelopmental delay * Gestational age less than 35 weeks at birth * Multiple organ failure or multiple organ anomalies

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Change from baseline in Plasma S100B

Timeframe: 1 week before surgery, 1 day and 1 week after surgery

Trial details

NCT IDNCT01426542

SponsorUniversity of California, Davis

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2017-07-28

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Cyanotic Congenital Heart Disease trials