Inhaled Nitric Oxide Treatment for Aneurysmal SAH Patients With Intractable Cerebral Vasospasm

Cerebral Ischemia Clinical Trial

Official title: Inhalative Stickstoffmonoxid (NO) Behandlung Bei Patienten Mit Schwerem, therapierefraktärem Zerebralen Vasospasmus Nach Subarachnoidalblutung

Status Completed

Clinical 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. 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.

Clinical Trial 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). ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Brain Ischemia
• Cerebral Infarction
• Cerebral Ischemia
• Inhaled Nitric Oxide
• Ischemia
• Respiratory Aspiration
• SAH
• Vasospasm

• NCT number: NCT04988932
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: University Hospital Inselspital, Berne
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: July 31, 2012
• Completion date: March 20, 2020