Neuroprotection With Phenytoin in Optic Neuritis

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2015-03-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

Optic neuritis is caused by inflammation of the optic nerve and causes loss of vision in the affected eye. It is often associated with multiple sclerosis. Loss of vision after an attack of optic neuritis is caused by damage to the nerve fibres in the optic nerve. There are a number of factors that contribute to nerve fibre damage including increased levels of sodium within them, so blocking sodium entry could help to protect them against damage.

The purpose of this study is determine whether phenytoin (which blocks sodium entry into cells) can protect against loss of nerve fibres and prevent loss of vision after optic neuritis.

• Phase: Phase 2
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: University College, London
• Collaborators: Multiple Sclerosis Society of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; National Multiple Sclerosis Society
• Treatments: Phenytoin

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of acute optic neuritis

• Visual acuity in affected eye ≤ 6/12

• Corrected vision in normal eye ≥ 6/6

• No history of optic neuritis or other ocular disease in either eye

• ≤ 14 days since onset of visual loss

Exclusion Criteria:

• Contraindication or known allergy to Phenytoin

• Contraindication to MRI

• Use of a calcium channel or sodium channel blocker in the past 2 months

• Corticosteroid use in the past 2 months

• Tysabri infusion in the past 3 months

• MS with major temperature dependent disability

• Relapsing remitting MS of greater than 10 yrs duration or EDSS>3

• Pregnancy

• Breast Feeding

• Significant cardiac, renal or liver abnormalities