Nimodipine for Treating Acute Massive Cerebral Infarction

April 28, 2018 updated by: Runhui Li, Fengtian Hospital

Nimodipine for Treating Acute Massive Cerebral Infarction: a Randomized, Double-blind, Controlled Clinical Study

Massive cerebral infarction is an ischemic stroke caused by complete blockage of the internal carotid artery, middle cerebral artery, or their cortical branches. The widespread infarction, pathological severity and high fatality rate associated with massive cerebral infarction pose a major threat to affected patients. However, there is a lack of unified diagnostic criteria. Many researchers use Adams' classification, in which massive cerebral infarction is diagnosed when the following criteria are met: infarct size > 13 cm2; a major brain-feeding artery is involved; the focal site affects more than two cerebral lobes; infarct diameter line ≥ 3 cm in internal capsule of striatum.

Prolonged cerebral ischemia/reperfusion can induce complex secondary changes in brain tissue, so the use of neuroprotective agents is very important. Remarkable progress has been made over the last decade in understanding the protective effect of calcium antagonists against cerebral ischemia. In particular, the liposoluble dihydropyridine Ca2+ antagonist nimodipine selectively acts on cerebral vessels and neurons and can protect ischemic brain tissue, providing a new way of treating ischemic cerebrovascular disease.

Preclinical and clinical tests have shown that nimodipine has a protective effect on ischemic brain tissue, and indicate that patients should take the drug as soon as possible. However, there are no reports of double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trials addressing the administration of nimodipine via intravenous drip within the time window for successful treatment of acute massive cerebral infarction.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

In the clinic, physicians are reluctant to use thrombolysis, Defibrase and anticoagulation therapy because of the severity of symptoms, poor prognosis, risk of hemorrhage and high fatality rate that occur with acute massive cerebral infarction. Nimodipine, as a selective Ca2+ antagonist, is highly liposoluble, effectively crosses the blood-brain barrier, selectively acts on intracranial blood vessels, and is an accepted neuroprotective agent that can be applied in the clinic. The aim of the present study is to perform a double-blind, randomized and controlled trial of the clinical efficacy and safety of nimodipine administered as an intravenous drip in the early stages of acute massive cerebral infarction.

Patients will receive nimodipine within 3 days of infarction onset. We will closely monitor the following: (1) Blood pressure and heart rate of the patient before treatment, since nimodipine is contraindicated in patients with hypotension and low heart rate. Where blood pressure is ≥ 100/80 mmHg and heart rate ≥ 60 BPM, nimodipine will be administered. (2) Speed of infusion. This should not be too fast; we suggest 1-2 drops per minute initially, increasing gradually until the drop in systolic pressure exceeds 10 mmHg. The average drip speed should be 6-8 drops/minute, and the fastest drip speed 10 drops/minute. (3) During the infusion, physicians should monitor adverse reactions such as headache, dizziness, flushing or sweating. If any occur, the infusion speed must be reduced. If the patients remain uncomfortable, nimodipine should be withdrawn. (4) Liver and kidney function should be monitored throughout nimodipine administration.

Although nimodipine is relatively safe, there is still a risk of some adverse effects, such as cardiovascular system reactions (blood pressure decreases, bradycardia, angina, and atrioventricular block), headache, dizziness, edema, and liver and kidney dysfunction. It is necessary to determine the optimal therapeutic time window and dose of nimodipine in multi-center, large-scale clinical trials.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

72

Phase

  • Phase 4

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

16 years to 78 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • First onset at age ≤ 80 years, no other severe medical complications;
  • Clear consciousness or mild disturbance of consciousness; paralysis of upper and lower extremities on one side with grade 0-3 muscle strength in paralyzed limbs;
  • CT reveals early massive cerebral infarction (without cerebral hemorrhage or old infarction);
  • Blood pressure within, or higher than, the normal range.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Clinical manifestations are noticeably improved before treatment;
  • Disorders of consciousness, manifesting as severe lethargy or coma;
  • Mild neurological deficits, such as pure sensory disturbances, ataxia, dysarthria, and hemiparesis;
  • Severe hypotension (systolic pressure < 90 mmHg, diastolic pressure < 60 mmHg);
  • Heart rate < 60 BPM; sinus bradycardia;
  • Severe heart, brain or kidney dysfunction, or malignant tumor.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: Quadruple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Saline + citicoline
The control group will receive physiological saline + citicoline 2.0 g, once a day, via intravenous drip, for 10 consecutive days. Patients will receive additional drugs to treat dehydration, prevent infection and upper gastrointestinal bleeding, and maintain water and electrolyte balance. Patients with complications will receive symptomatic treatment.
Drug: Saline + citicoline
physiological saline + citicoline 2.0 g, once a day, via intravenous drip, for 10 consecutive days.
Other Names:
  • The control group
Experimental: Nimodipine

The treatment group will receive 10 mg of nimodipine in 500 ml of physiological saline via intravenous drip, at a rate of 1-2 drops per minute initially, increasing gradually until systolic pressure decreases by 10 mmHg. Maximum drip speed is 10 drops/minute, administered once a day for 7 consecutive days. The nimodipine must be kept in the dark. Blood pressure and heart rate will be monitored throughout the administration period.

Patients in control group will receive additional drugs to treat dehydration, prevent infection and upper gastrointestinal bleeding, and maintain water and electrolyte balance. Patients with complications will receive symptomatic treatment.
Drug: Nimodipine
Jiangsu Jichuan Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Jiangsu Province, China
Other Names:
  • The treatment group

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Neurological deficits
Time Frame: up to 90 days
Neurological deficits after stroke will be assessed using the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale scores
up to 90 days

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Fengtian Hospital

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Runhui Li, M.D., Central Hospital Affiliated to Shenyang Medical College

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

October 1, 2014

Primary Completion (Actual)

September 1, 2015

Study Completion (Actual)

September 1, 2015

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 22, 2014

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 23, 2014

First Posted (Estimate)

September 25, 2014

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 1, 2018

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 28, 2018

Last Verified

April 1, 2018

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • FengtianH-RHL-001

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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