SAHNCT04988932
Inhaled Nitric Oxide Treatment for Aneurysmal SAH Patients With Intractable Cerebral Vasospasm
A study testing Inhaled nitric oxide in people with SAH and Inhaled Nitric Oxide, run by Insel Gruppe AG, University Hospital Bern at 1 site in Switzerland.
Trial summary
Aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH) is a rare but severe subtype of stroke with high mortality and morbidity. Besides rebleeding, delayed cerebral ischaemia and cerebral vasospasm (CVS) are thought to be major reasons for the poor outcome in survivors of aSAH. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 80 years
- Conditions the study is for
- SAH, Inhaled Nitric Oxide, Cerebral Ischemia
- What is being tested?
- Inhaled nitric oxide
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 7 participants
- Where
- 1 siteSwitzerland
- Study dates
- 31 Jul 2012to 20 Mar 2020
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 80 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- aSAH of all severities
- Aneurysm treated by either surgical clipping or endovascular coiling
- Age between 18 - 80 years
- Proven CVS
- Cerebral hypoperfusion and neurological deficit despite treatment (oral nimodipine, induced hypertension, hypervolaemia, central venous pressure > 6 mmHg)
- A negative pregnancy test in women
- Signed informed consent from the next of kin and an independent physician
Who cannot join
- Unsecured aneurysm
- Cerebral infarction on imaging in the downstream brain parenchyma of spastic vessel
- Cerebral herniation
- Intracranial pressure > 25 mmHg
- Pregnancy
- Mean arterial pressure ≤ 90 mmHg despite catecholamines
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Switzerland1 site
Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Bern
Bern, 3010
About this study
Official title: Inhalative Stickstoffmonoxid (NO) Behandlung Bei Patienten Mit Schwerem, therapierefraktärem Zerebralen Vasospasmus Nach Subarachnoidalblutung
Aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH) is a rare but severe subtype of stroke with high mortality and morbidity. Besides rebleeding, delayed cerebral ischaemia and cerebral vasospasm (CVS) are thought to be major reasons for the poor outcome in survivors of aSAH. Despite advances in the detection and treatment of CVS 20-40% of CVS patients experience cerebral Ischaemia. Experimental animal studies for ischaemic stroke, traumatic brain injury, and SAH showed that inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) selectively dilates cerebral arteries and arterioles in hypoperfused brain tissue. The investigators therefore performed this prospective pilot study to evaluate the effects of iNO on cerebral perfusion in patients with refractory vasospasm after aSAH.
Read the detailed description
Aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH) is a rare but severe subtype of stroke with high mortality and morbidity. Besides rebleeding, delayed cerebral ischaemia and cerebral vasospasm (CVS) are thought to be major reasons for the poor outcome in survivors of aSAH. CVS, thought to be caused by blood breakdown products, peak in the second week after hemorrhage and affect up 88% of patients with severe aSAH. Despite advances in the detection and treatment of CVS there is no established therapy and up 40% of patients experience cerebral ischemia. In symptomatic vasospasm and cerebral hypoperfusion various treatments like induced hypertension, angioplasty and intraarterial vasodilators are used as rescue therapies. Yet, their effect is not proven.
In recent experimental studies, inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) has been shown to induce a selective dilation of cerebral arteries and arterioles in hypoperfused brain tissue [8, 9]. After experimental SAH in mice, iNO significantly reduced the number and severity of SAH-induced spasms of cerebral microvessels, thereby improving cerebral perfusion. Inhaled NO has regulatory approval in man by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the treatment of several pulmonary pathologies. At first the efficacy of iNO was thought to be limited to the lungs but, based on the results of the experimental studies the investigators hypothesised that iNO may relieve CVS and improve cerebral perfusion in patients with aSAH.
The investigators performed this prospective trial to evaluate the effect of iNO on cerebral perfusion in patients with severe refractory CVS. Only patients with refractory CVS after maximum conservative treatment were included. Inhaled NO was administered to a maximum dose of 40ppm. The effect was assessed by digital subtraction angiography (DSA), tissue oxygen partial pressure (PtiO2), transcranial Doppler (TCD), and CT perfusion (CTP) imaging. Patiente outcome is assessed at 12 weeks an 6 months after hemorrhage and included NIHSS, Mini Mental State (MMS) test, and modified Rankin Scale (mRS).
- Conditions
- SAH, Inhaled Nitric Oxide, Cerebral Ischemia, Vasospasm
- Being tested
- Inhaled nitric oxide
- Medical subject headings
- Brain Ischemia
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Inhaled nitric oxideDrug
Each increase of iNO dose is followed by a 10-minute monitoring period and a DSA examination. After reaching the highest effective dose of iNO or the maximum of 40 ppm another DSA is performed. iNO is going to be continued until normalisation of CVS or for a maximum period of 5 days. During iNO treatment a DSA will be performed every 24 hours, followed by a decrease of iNO to the next-lower level. If tapering the iNO concentration is associated with increasing vasospasm, iNO is going to be increased again to the last effective dosage. For cessation of iNO administration, dosage will be tapered every 30 minutes using the same dosage steps as for initiation of iNO treatment. If the duration of iNO treatment will be more than 32 hours, tapering intervals are prolonged to 4 hours. Cessation of iNO will be followed by a DSA.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Administration of iNO in SAH patients with severe vasospasm | Experimental | iNO is started at a dose of 1 parts per million (ppm) and increased stepwise to 2 ppm, 5 ppm, 12 ppm, 25 ppm, until a maximum dose of 40 ppm is reached. Receives: Drug: Inhaled nitric oxide |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Improvement of severe vasospasm in digital subtraction angiography
> 10% increase in diameter of the vasospastic target vessel compared to baseline
Measured: Up to 5 days
Improvement of severe vasospasm in tissue oxygen partial pressure (PtiO2)
An increase of more than 5 mmHg with constant fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2)
Measured: Up to 5 days
Improvement of severe vasospasm in transcranial Doppler
A decrease of more than 30 cm/s
Measured: Up to 5 days
Improvement of severe vasospasm in CT perfusion
A reduction in the number of Region of interest with impaired perfusion (MTT > 6·5 s)
Measured: Day 2
Secondary outcomes (2)
Intracranial pressure
Intracranial pressure using an external ventricular drain catheter
Measured: Up to 5 days
Assessment of ischaemic events by CT Scan
Measured: 12 weeks after SAH
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted4 Aug 2021
- Study start31 Jul 2012
- Primary completion28 Jul 2019
- Study completion20 Mar 2020
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (6)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for SAHStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Insel Gruppe AG, University Hospital BernThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Model description
- Administration of iNO in SAH patients with severe vasospasm
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 7 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Insel Gruppe AG, University Hospital Bern
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Juergen Beck, MD, Principal investigator, Inselspital Bern, Department of Neurosurgery
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04988932
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 019/10
- Status last verified
- Jul 2021
- First submitted
- 12 Jul 2021
- Last updated
- 4 Aug 2021
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Terpolilli NA, Feiler S, Dienel A, Muller F, Heumos N, Friedrich B, Stover J, Thal S, Scholler K, Plesnila N. Nitric oxide inhalation reduces brain damage, prevents mortality, and improves neurological outcome after subarachnoid hemorrhage by resolving early pial microvasospasms. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2016 Dec;36(12):2096-2107. doi: 10.1177/0271678X15605848. Epub 2015 Nov 2.
PubMed 26661144Terpolilli NA, Kim SW, Thal SC, Kataoka H, Zeisig V, Nitzsche B, Klaesner B, Zhu C, Schwarzmaier S, Meissner L, Mamrak U, Engel DC, Drzezga A, Patel RP, Blomgren K, Barthel H, Boltze J, Kuebler WM, Plesnila N. Inhalation of nitric oxide prevents ischemic brain damage in experimental stroke by selective dilatation of collateral arterioles. Circ Res. 2012 Mar 2;110(5):727-38. doi: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.111.253419. Epub 2011 Dec 29.
PubMed 22207711Terpolilli NA, Brem C, Buhler D, Plesnila N. Are We Barking Up the Wrong Vessels? Cerebral Microcirculation After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage. Stroke. 2015 Oct;46(10):3014-9. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.115.006353. Epub 2015 Jul 7. No abstract available.
PubMed 26152299Terpolilli NA, Kim SW, Thal SC, Kuebler WM, Plesnila N. Inhaled nitric oxide reduces secondary brain damage after traumatic brain injury in mice. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2013 Feb;33(2):311-8. doi: 10.1038/jcbfm.2012.176. Epub 2012 Nov 28.
PubMed 23188422Germann P, Braschi A, Della Rocca G, Dinh-Xuan AT, Falke K, Frostell C, Gustafsson LE, Herve P, Jolliet P, Kaisers U, Litvan H, Macrae DJ, Maggiorini M, Marczin N, Mueller B, Payen D, Ranucci M, Schranz D, Zimmermann R, Ullrich R. Inhaled nitric oxide therapy in adults: European expert recommendations. Intensive Care Med. 2005 Aug;31(8):1029-41. doi: 10.1007/s00134-005-2675-4. Epub 2005 Jun 23.
PubMed 15973521Griffiths MJ, Evans TW. Inhaled nitric oxide therapy in adults. N Engl J Med. 2005 Dec 22;353(25):2683-95. doi: 10.1056/NEJMra051884. No abstract available.
PubMed 16371634
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 4 Aug 2021. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Inhalative Stickstoffmonoxid (NO) Behandlung Bei Patienten Mit Schwerem, therapierefraktärem Zerebralen Vasospasmus Nach Subarachnoidalblutung
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04988932
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 019/10
- Conditions
- SAH, Inhaled Nitric Oxide, Cerebral Ischemia, Vasospasm
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 7 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Insel Gruppe AG, University Hospital BernUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 31 Jul 2012 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 28 Jul 2019 (actual)
- Study completion
- 20 Mar 2020 (actual)
- First posted
- 4 Aug 2021 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH) is a rare but severe subtype of stroke with high mortality and morbidity. Besides rebleeding, delayed cerebral ischaemia and cerebral vasospasm (CVS) are thought to be major reasons for the poor outcome in survivors of aSAH. Despite advances in the detection and treatment of CVS 20-40% of CVS patients experience cerebral Ischaemia. Experimental animal studies for ischaemic stroke, traumatic brain injury, and SAH showed that inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) selectively dilates cerebral arteries and arterioles in hypoperfused brain tissue. The investigators therefore performed this prospective pilot study to evaluate the effects of iNO on cerebral perfusion in patients with refractory vasospasm after aSAH.
Detailed description
Aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH) is a rare but severe subtype of stroke with high mortality and morbidity. Besides rebleeding, delayed cerebral ischaemia and cerebral vasospasm (CVS) are thought to be major reasons for the poor outcome in survivors of aSAH. CVS, thought to be caused by blood breakdown products, peak in the second week after hemorrhage and affect up 88% of patients with severe aSAH. Despite advances in the detection and treatment of CVS there is no established therapy and up 40% of patients experience cerebral ischemia. In symptomatic vasospasm and cerebral hypoperfusion various treatments like induced hypertension, angioplasty and intraarterial vasodilators are used as rescue therapies. Yet, their effect is not proven.
In recent experimental studies, inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) has been shown to induce a selective dilation of cerebral arteries and arterioles in hypoperfused brain tissue [8, 9]. After experimental SAH in mice, iNO significantly reduced the number and severity of SAH-induced spasms of cerebral microvessels, thereby improving cerebral perfusion. Inhaled NO has regulatory approval in man by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the treatment of several pulmonary pathologies. At first the efficacy of iNO was thought to be limited to the lungs but, based on the results of the experimental studies the investigators hypothesised that iNO may relieve CVS and improve cerebral perfusion in patients with aSAH.
The investigators performed this prospective trial to evaluate the effect of iNO on cerebral perfusion in patients with severe refractory CVS. Only patients with refractory CVS after maximum conservative treatment were included. Inhaled NO was administered to a maximum dose of 40ppm. The effect was assessed by digital subtraction angiography (DSA), tissue oxygen partial pressure (PtiO2), transcranial Doppler (TCD), and CT perfusion (CTP) imaging. Patiente outcome is assessed at 12 weeks an 6 months after hemorrhage and included NIHSS, Mini Mental State (MMS) test, and modified Rankin Scale (mRS).
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
- Model description
- Administration of iNO in SAH patients with severe vasospasm
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Administration of iNO in SAH patients with severe vasospasm | Experimental | Drug: Inhaled nitric oxideiNO is started at a dose of 1 parts per million (ppm) and increased stepwise to 2 ppm, 5 ppm, 12 ppm, 25 ppm, until a maximum dose of 40 ppm is reached. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 80 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (7 listed)
- aSAH of all severities
- Aneurysm treated by either surgical clipping or endovascular coiling
- Age between 18 - 80 years
- Proven CVS
- Cerebral hypoperfusion and neurological deficit despite treatment (oral nimodipine, induced hypertension, hypervolaemia, central venous pressure > 6 mmHg)
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Unsecured aneurysm
- Cerebral infarction on imaging in the downstream brain parenchyma of spastic vessel
- Cerebral herniation
- Intracranial pressure > 25 mmHg
- Pregnancy
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Inhaled nitric oxideEach increase of iNO dose is followed by a 10-minute monitoring period and a DSA examination. After reaching the highest effective dose of iNO or the maximum of 40 ppm another DSA is performed. iNO is going to be continued until normalisation of CVS or for a maximum period of 5 days. During iNO treatment a DSA will be performed every 24 hours, followed by a decrease of iNO to the next-lower level. If tapering the iNO concentration is associated with increasing vasospasm, iNO is going to be increased again to the last effective dosage. For cessation of iNO administration, dosage will be tapered every 30 minutes using the same dosage steps as for initiation of iNO treatment. If the duration of iNO treatment will be more than 32 hours, tapering intervals are prolonged to 4 hours. Cessation of iNO will be followed by a DSA. | Drug | Administration of iNO in SAH patients with severe vasospasm |
Primary outcome
Improvement of severe vasospasm in digital subtraction angiography
Time frame: Up to 5 days
> 10% increase in diameter of the vasospastic target vessel compared to baseline
Improvement of severe vasospasm in tissue oxygen partial pressure (PtiO2)
Time frame: Up to 5 days
An increase of more than 5 mmHg with constant fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2)
Improvement of severe vasospasm in transcranial Doppler
Time frame: Up to 5 days
A decrease of more than 30 cm/s
Improvement of severe vasospasm in CT perfusion
Time frame: Day 2
A reduction in the number of Region of interest with impaired perfusion (MTT > 6·5 s)
2 secondary outcomes
Intracranial pressure
Time frame: Up to 5 days
Assessment of ischaemic events by CT Scan
Time frame: 12 weeks after SAH
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 4 Aug 2021.
- Background: PubMed 26661144Terpolilli NA, Feiler S, Dienel A, Muller F, Heumos N, Friedrich B, Stover J, Thal S, Scholler K, Plesnila N. Nitric oxide inhalation reduces brain damage, prevents mortality, and improves neurological outcome after subarachnoid hemorrhage by resolving early pial microvasospasms. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2016 Dec;36(12):2096-2107. doi: 10.1177/0271678X15605848. Epub 2015 Nov 2.
- Background: PubMed 22207711Terpolilli NA, Kim SW, Thal SC, Kataoka H, Zeisig V, Nitzsche B, Klaesner B, Zhu C, Schwarzmaier S, Meissner L, Mamrak U, Engel DC, Drzezga A, Patel RP, Blomgren K, Barthel H, Boltze J, Kuebler WM, Plesnila N. Inhalation of nitric oxide prevents ischemic brain damage in experimental stroke by selective dilatation of collateral arterioles. Circ Res. 2012 Mar 2;110(5):727-38. doi: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.111.253419. Epub 2011 Dec 29.
- Background: PubMed 26152299Terpolilli NA, Brem C, Buhler D, Plesnila N. Are We Barking Up the Wrong Vessels? Cerebral Microcirculation After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage. Stroke. 2015 Oct;46(10):3014-9. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.115.006353. Epub 2015 Jul 7. No abstract available.
- Background: PubMed 23188422Terpolilli NA, Kim SW, Thal SC, Kuebler WM, Plesnila N. Inhaled nitric oxide reduces secondary brain damage after traumatic brain injury in mice. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2013 Feb;33(2):311-8. doi: 10.1038/jcbfm.2012.176. Epub 2012 Nov 28.
- Background: PubMed 15973521Germann P, Braschi A, Della Rocca G, Dinh-Xuan AT, Falke K, Frostell C, Gustafsson LE, Herve P, Jolliet P, Kaisers U, Litvan H, Macrae DJ, Maggiorini M, Marczin N, Mueller B, Payen D, Ranucci M, Schranz D, Zimmermann R, Ullrich R. Inhaled nitric oxide therapy in adults: European expert recommendations. Intensive Care Med. 2005 Aug;31(8):1029-41. doi: 10.1007/s00134-005-2675-4. Epub 2005 Jun 23.
- Background: PubMed 16371634Griffiths MJ, Evans TW. Inhaled nitric oxide therapy in adults. N Engl J Med. 2005 Dec 22;353(25):2683-95. doi: 10.1056/NEJMra051884. No abstract available.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Juergen Beck, MD principal investigator
Inselspital Bern, Department of Neurosurgery
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Inhaled nitric oxide in people with SAH and Inhaled Nitric Oxide, run by Insel Gruppe AG, University Hospital Bern at 1 site in Switzerland.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 4 Aug 2021. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Switzerland. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Improvement of severe vasospasm in digital subtraction angiography (time frame: Up to 5 days). The study lists 4 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04988932, which also lists 6 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 4 Aug 2021.