CARDIF: Carbon dioxide in the treatment of febrile seizures

Study Description:
5% of all children suffer from at least one febrile seizure once in their lifetime. 30% of these children have recurrent or particularly long-lasting febrile seizures which is very incriminating for affected parents. The current standard therapy consists in the rectal administration of diazepam in cases where the seizure lasts longer than 3 minutes. Unfortunately, this substance is not always effective. Furthermore, it has a sedating effect, i.e. after administration the children usually sleep for the rest of the day or are dazed. 

Previous work showed that the inhalation of an increased carbon dioxide concentration could stop febrile seizures quickly. We wanted to confirm these findings in a bigger randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study using carbogen (containing 5% carbon dioxide and 95% oxygen). All previous data show a very high safety of carbogen. Carbogen were administered via a low pressure can (similar to a spray can). Participating patients were receive these cans for the use at home.

Principle Investigator: Prof. Dr. Markus Schülke-Gerstenfeld (WG Developmental Disorders of the Nervous System, NCRC, Pediatrics CVK)

Registration: This study is registered in the database clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01370044).

Course of the study: 2012 - 06/2015

Publication:
Ohlraun, S., T. Wollersheim, C. Weiss, P. Martus, S. Weber-Carstens, D. Schmitz, and M. Schuelke. "Carbon Dioxide for the Treatment of Febrile Seizures: Rationale, Feasibility, and Design of the Cardif-Study." J Transl Med 11 (Jun 27 2013): 157. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1479-5876-11-157. Link