Faculty Collaboration Database

A Pilot Randomized, Controlled, Double-Blind Trial of Bumetanide to Treat Neonatal Seizures. Ann Neurol 2021 Feb;89(2):327-340

Date

11/18/2020

Pubmed ID

33201535

Pubmed Central ID

PMC8122513

DOI

10.1002/ana.25959

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85097006616 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   64 Citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: In the absence of controlled trials, treatment of neonatal seizures has changed minimally despite poor drug efficacy. We tested bumetanide added to phenobarbital to treat neonatal seizures in the first trial to include a standard-therapy control group.

METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, dose-escalation design was employed. Neonates with postmenstrual age 33 to 44 weeks at risk of or with seizures were eligible. Subjects with electroencephalography (EEG)-confirmed seizures after ≥20 and <40mg/kg phenobarbital were randomized to receive additional phenobarbital with either placebo (control) or 0.1, 0.2, or 0.3mg/kg bumetanide (treatment). Continuous EEG monitoring data from ≥2 hours before to ≥48 hours after study drug administration (SDA) were analyzed for seizures.

RESULTS: Subjects were randomized to treatment (n = 27) and control (n = 16) groups. Pharmacokinetics were highly variable among subjects and altered by hypothermia. The only statistically significant adverse event was diuresis in treated subjects (48% vs 13%, p = 0.02). One treated (4%) and 3 control subjects died (19%, p = 0.14). Among survivors, 2 of 26 treated subjects (8%) and 0 of 13 control subjects had hearing impairment, as did 1 nonrandomized subject. Total seizure burden varied widely, with much higher seizure burden in treatment versus control groups (median = 3.1 vs 1.2 min/h, p = 0.006). There was significantly greater reduction in seizure burden 0 to 4 hours and 2 to 4 hours post-SDA (both p < 0.01) compared with 2-hour baseline in treatment versus control groups with adjustment for seizure burden.

INTERPRETATION: Although definitive proof of efficacy awaits an appropriately powered phase 3 trial, this randomized, controlled, multicenter trial demonstrated an additional reduction in seizure burden attributable to bumetanide over phenobarbital without increased serious adverse effects. Future trials of bumetanide and other drugs should include a control group and balance seizure severity. ANN NEUROL 2021;89:327-340.

Author List

Soul JS, Bergin AM, Stopp C, Hayes B, Singh A, Fortuno CR, O'Reilly D, Krishnamoorthy K, Jensen FE, Rofeberg V, Dong M, Vinks AA, Wypij D, Staley KJ, Boston Bumetanide Trial Group

Author

Avantika Singh MBBS Assistant Professor in the Neurology department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Anticonvulsants
Bumetanide
Double-Blind Method
Drug Therapy, Combination
Electroencephalography
Female
GABA Modulators
Genetic Diseases, Inborn
Humans
Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain
Infant, Newborn
Intracranial Hemorrhages
Male
Meningoencephalitis
Nervous System Malformations
Phenobarbital
Pilot Projects
Seizures
Sodium Potassium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors
Stroke