Levetiracetam in chronic daily headache: a double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled study. (The Australian KEPPRA Headache Trial [AUS-KHT]).
BACKGROUND
Chronic daily headache (CDH) represents a temporal profile of headache (15+ days/month; 4+ hours/day; >6 months). We report the first comprehensive and largest levetiracetam (LEV) trial in CDH.


METHODS
A 27-week, multi-centre, randomised, placebo-controlled, cross-over, phase III B study assessed efficacy of a target of 3 g/day LEV of 6 placebo tablets/day in CDH. Primary efficacy was headache-free rate (HFR) while secondary parameters were loss of diagnostic criteria; severity; duration; disability; associated features; pain; and quality of life.


RESULTS
Ninety-six patients were recruited (baseline HFR 10.4 ± 14.6%; median 0%). At onset of history 73 (74.1%) had migraine +/- aura and 35 (36.5%) had tension-type headache (TTH). Over the six months preceding recruitment 54 (56.3%) had migraine and 42 (43.8%) had TTH. Headache history was 22.6 ± 15.0 years (median 20.0). Eighty-eight received placebo and 89 received LEV with >80 receiving stable dose in either arm. LEV achieved 3.9% increased HFR over placebo, showing a trend but not significance. There was 9.9% increase in loss of CDH diagnostic criteria re: headache days/month for LEV over placebo (p = .0325), reduced disability (p = .0487) and reduced pain severity for LEV (p = .0162). The Short-Form Quality of Life assessment instrument (SF-36) showed impaired mental health on LEV (p = .001).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings conflict with reports of LEV efficacy, mandating placebo control in headache trials. Primary efficacy equated to one extra headache-free day/month with reduced disability and pain intensity. Mental health was reduced on LEV. The 10% loss of diagnostic criteria, decreased intensity and disability suggest a subpopulation with CDH where LEV remains a therapeutic option.
Griffith University and Liverpool Hospital, Australia.
Roy G
RG
Beran
Paul J
PJ
Spira
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001315:Australia; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D020773:Headache Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010889:Piracetam / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D000700:Analgesics; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D010889:Piracetam