Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Trial RandOmizing Heparin (ASTROH)

A Blind-adjudication Multi-center Phase II Randomized Clinical Trial of Continuous Low-dose Intravenous Heparin Therapy in Coiled Low-grade Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Patients With Significant Hemorrhage Burden

A Blind-adjudication Multi-center Phase II Randomized Clinical Trial of Continuous Low-dose Intravenous Heparin Therapy in Coiled Low-grade Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Patients with Significant Hemorrhage Burden. - STUDY IS TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED WITH PLAN TO RESUME SOON. NO SAFETY CONCERNS

Study Overview

• Status: Suspended
• Conditions: Neurobehavioral Manifestations; Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage; Vasospasm, Intracranial; Intracranial Aneurysm; Heparin-induced Thrombocytopenia Type II
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Continuous Low-Dose IV Unfractionated Heparin Infusion

Detailed Description

The primary objective of this study is to investigate the safety and clinical effect of a continuous low-dose intravenous unfractionated heparin (LDIVH) infusion for the prevention of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) induced neurocognitive dysfunction and other delayed neurological deficits.

Additionally, increased blood and CSF levels of certain inflammatory biomarkers (IL-6, hsCRP, etc) have been correlated to aSAH patients with poor clinical outcomes. Unfractionated heparin (UFH) has known anti-inflammatory actions. As a result, a secondary objective of this study will be to evaluate whether LDIVH can reduce blood and CSF inflammatory biomarkers levels compared to controls and whether there is any association between inflammatory biomarker levels and cognitive outcomes in aSAH.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 88
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Connecticut
    • New Haven, Connecticut, United States
      • Yale University
  • Florida
    • Gainesville, Florida, United States
      • University of Florida
    • Tallahassee, Florida, United States
      • Tallahassee Neurological Clinic
  • Illinois
    • Chicago, Illinois, United States
      • Rush University
  • Indiana
    • Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, 46202
      • Indiana University
  • Kentucky
    • Louisville, Kentucky, United States, 40202
      • University Of Louisville
  • Michigan
    • Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
      • University of Michigan
  • New York
    • New York, New York, United States
      • Mount Sinai Ichan School of Medicine
  • Texas
    • Dallas, Texas, United States
      • University of Texas Southwestern

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 70 years (ADULT, OLDER_ADULT)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age ≥ 18 and ≤ 70 years
2. Historical modified Rankin Scale Score 0-1
3. Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage caused by a ruptured saccular aneurysm confirmed by catheter angiography that is repaired by endovascular coil embolization. Initiation of the coil embolization procedure should occur within 48 hours from the time of the aneurysm rupture (ictus). In patients where the exact time of the ictus is uncertain, a reasonable estimate of the time of ictus may be assigned. This reasonable time estimate should be considered likely accurate to within hours of the true unknown time.
4. Quality of aneurysm embolization is interpreted to be Raymond-Roy Score of 1 (Complete) or 2 (Residual Neck) indicating that the aneurysm is adequately secured. A tiny amount of contrast in the body of the aneurysm is acceptable as long as the physician considers the aneurysm secured and to NOT represent a Raymond-Roy Score of 3 (Residual Aneurysm).
5. WFNS grade 1 or 2 as assessed after repair of the aneurysm during screening but prior to randomization. A patient who presents with a WFNS greater than 2 who then improves with resuscitation, ventriculostomy, or time is acceptable.
6. The pre-repair, admission head CT demonstrates an aSAH bleed pattern of "thick and diffuse" or "thick and focal" hemorrhage within the subarachnoid basal cisterns measuring ≥ 4 mm in the short axis and ≥ 20 mm in the long axis which is consistent with a modified Fisher grade 3 or 4. Intraventricular hemorrhage is acceptable. Enrollable patients must NOT have a parenchymal hemorrhage greater than 10 cc. Please refer to diagram below for examples. The hemorrhage location should be substantially within the supratentorial space and not isolated to the infratentorial space.
7. The location of the aneurysm should be the anterior circulation, posterior communicating, OR a basilar terminus (apex). Angiographic location of the aneurysm should be confirmed by catheter digital subtraction angiography (DSA) usually obtained during the coil embolization procedure. Patients with PICA or other posterior circulation aneurysms as the cause of the SAH should not be included because they typically cause primarily infratentorial bleed patterns.
8. Ability to screen the patient and obtain a head CT 2-12 hours after the completion of the coiling procedure and the ability to initiate the study drug 12 ± 8 hours after the completion of aneurysm coiling procedure.
9. After recovering from anesthesia following the aneurysm coiling procedure, the patient must remain a WFNS SAH grade ≤ 2 without evidence of a significant new focal neurological deficit including monoparesis / monoplegia, hemiparesis / hemiplegia, or receptive, expressive or global aphasia. New minor cranial nerve defect without any other new findings is permissible. If an NIHSS score was obtained prior to the aneurysm coiling procedure, a post-coiling (pre-enrollment) NIHSS score must not have increased by ≥ 4 points and GCS score must not be decreased by ≥ 2 points. The clinician at the local site should use their best clinical judgment as to whether a significant neurological decline has occurred due to the procedure.
10. Patient is willing and able to return for study follow-up visits.
11. Patient or their Legally Authorized Representative (LAR) has provided written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Angio-negative SAH.
2. History or imaging suggesting that the current hemorrhage presentation is a recent re-rupture of the aneurysm. Prior sentinel headache with negative CT or prior sentinel headache where the patient did not seek medical attention does not exclude the patient.
3. Surgical Clipping (or plan for clipping) of the ruptured aneurysm or any non- ruptured aneurysm on the same admission.
4. Aneurysm is identified to be traumatic, mycotic, blister or fusiform type by catheter DSA.
5. Any intracranial stent placement or non-coil intra-aneurysmal device where dual- antiplatelet therapy is needed during admission.
6. Patient has additional aneurysm(s) that are untreated and could reasonably be considered a possible alternate cause of the aSAH based on the observed bleeding pattern. Adequate treatment of these aneurysms by coiling embolization would result in the aneurysms no longer causing an exclusion. MRI may be used in some situations to determine that the associated aneurysms did not rupture based on lack of blood seen adjacent to the additional aneurysms.
7. Patient received heparin in any form within the last 100 days prior to current presentation / admission.
8. Thrombocytopenia (platelet count less than 100,000 - assuming clumping has been ruled out as a cause).
9. New intraparenchymal hemorrhage or new infarction larger the 15cc in volume, or significant increased mass effect as seen on the post-coiling, pre-enrollment head CT when compared to baseline admission head CT. New hyperdensity on CT scan related to contrast staining is not an exclusion.
10. Patient has a documented history of heparin induced thrombocytopenia (HIT).
11. Patient developed SAH-induced cardiac stunning prior to enrollment, with an ejection fraction <30%, or requiring IV medications for blood pressure maintenance.
12. Concurrent significant intracranial pathology identified prior to enrollment, including but not limited to, Moyamoya disease, high suspicion or documented CNS vasculitis, severe fibromuscular dysplasia, arteriovenous malformation, arteriovenous fistula, or malignant brain tumor.
13. Thrombolytic therapy within 24 hours prior to enrollment (rtPA, urokinase, etc.)
14. Plan for antiplatelet or oral anticoagulation therapy from the time of the coil embolization procedure until 14 full days after enrollment. Antiplatelet therapy may be resumed after the 14-day window. A single 325 mg Aspirin (or lower dose) given during the coil embolization peri-procedural period is acceptable if this is the local standard of care but should be documented.
15. Concomitant serious or uncontrolled disease such as severe infection, active (non- remission) cancer, severe organ dysfunction (severe heart failure, severe chronic kidney impairment requiring dialysis or severe chronic liver disease) or any coagulopathy (including DIC or bleeding diathesis).
16. Uncontrollable hypertension (>180 systolic and/or >110 diastolic) that is not correctable prior to enrollment.
17. Prior neurological disease/deficit or psychiatric disease that may continue to alter the results of neuropsychological evaluation, such as dementia, Multiple sclerosis, seizure disorder, severe traumatic brain injury, previous ruptured cerebral aneurysm or active major depression. Childhood seizures that have resolved and no longer require treatment are not part of this exclusion criteria.
18. Active Immunosuppression therapy including chronic corticosteroid usage.
19. History of gastrointestinal hemorrhage or major systemic hemorrhage within 30 days (including large flank or large retroperitoneal hematoma due to current admission coiling procedure requiring treatment), hemoglobin less than 6 g/dL, INR ≥1.5 after reversal of anticoagulants.
20. Major surgery (including open femoral, aortic, or carotid surgery) within previous 30 days.
21. Currently pregnant.
22. Enrollment in another research study that prescribes a therapeutic treatment that differs from the local standard of care, or that would conflict with this study in some other significant fashion. Registries or coil comparison studies are appropriate.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: TREATMENT
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Interventional Model: PARALLEL
• Masking: SINGLE

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
NO_INTERVENTION: Control; Standard of Care
EXPERIMENTAL: LDIVH (Unfractionated Heparin); Continuous Low-Dose IV Unfractionated Heparin Infusion	Drug: Continuous Low-Dose IV Unfractionated Heparin Infusion; Continuous intravenous infusion of a low-dose unfractionated heparin drip; Other Names: Heparin; Unfractionated Heparin; Heparin drip; IV Heparin

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)	Primary Clinical Outcome Measure- mean score compared between groups	90-day follow-up visit
Rate of "Major Bleeding" or "Clinically Relevant Non-Major Bleeding"	As defined by the International Society of Thrombosis and Heamostasis (ISTH) Primary Safety Outcome Measure-	Patients will be followed for the duration of the hospital stay; an expected average of 3 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Rate of "Major Bleeding"	As defined by the International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH)	Participants will be followed for the duration of the hospital stay, an expected average of 3 weeks
Rate of Type II Heparin Induced Thrombocytopenia (HIT)		Enrollment through 90-day follow-up visit
Rate of Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT) or Pulmonary Embolism (PE)		Enrollment through 90-day follow-up visit
All Cause - Mortality Rate		Enrollment through 90-day follow-up visit
Incidence of Any Fever (> 38.3 degrees C; > or = 101.0 degrees F)		Participants will be followed for the duration of the hospital stay, an expected average of 3 weeks
Incidence of multiple fevers (> 2 episodes)		Participants will be followed for the duration of the hospital stay, an expected average of 3 weeks
Mean daily fever burden	Daily fever burden = Sum of hourly fever burden over 24 hours; Hourly fever burden = Any hourly temperature recording > 37 degrees C - (minus) 37 degrees C; if temperature is less than or equal to 37 degrees C then the hourly fever burden would be zero.	Participants will be followed for the duration of the hospital stay, an expected average of 3 weeks
Glasgow Coma Score		Enrollment, post-enrollment days #6, 10, discharge, and 90-day follow-up visit
National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS)		Enrollment, post-enrollment days #6, 10, upon discharge from hospital stay an expected average of about 3 weeks after admission, 90-day follow-up visit
Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)	Mean between groups and rate of MoCA score of 20 or less between groups	Enrollment, post-enrollment days #6, 10, 1 year follow-up
Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D)		90-day follow-up visit and 1-year follow-up visit
Trail Making Test Parts A&B		90-day follow-up visit
Cerebral Vasospasm	Incidence of moderate and severe radiographic cerebral vasospasm (catheter angiogram, CTA, MRA) or incidence OR moderate and severe vasospasm by transcranial doppler (TCD) criteria	Participants will be followed for the duration of the hospital stay, an expected average of 3 weeks
Incidence of clinical cerebral vasospasm requiring rescue therapy	Rescue therapy = vasopressors or endovascular therapy for the purposes of reversing clinical vasospasm; it does not include Triple H (Hyperdynamic Therapy)	Participants will be followed for the duration of the hospital stay, an expected average of 3 weeks
Incidence of CT or MRI imaging demonstrating cerebral vasospasm related cerebral infarction		Participants will be followed for the duration of the hospital stay, an expected average of 3 weeks
Ordinal Regression Analysis of the modified Rankin Scale score (mRS)		90-day follow-up visit and 1 year follow-up visit
Relative frequency of "good outcome" as defined by dichotomized mRS score 0-2		90-day follow-up visit and 1 year follow-up visit
Barthel Index		90-day follow-up visit and 1 year follow-up visit
Return to work status		90-day follow-up and 1 year follow-up visit
Lawton instrumental activities of daily living (IADL)		90-day follow-up visit and 1 year follow-up visit
Quality of Life in Brain Injury - Overall Scale (QOLIBRI-OS)		90-day follow-up visit and 1 year follow-up visit
Checklist Individual Strength- Subscale Fatigue (CIS-F)		90-day follow-up visit and 1 year follow-up visit
Plasma biomarker level (hsCRP)		Enrollment, post-enrollment days #2,4,6,10
Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) biomarker level (hsCRP)		Enrollment, post-enrollment days #2,4,6,10
Rate of Serious Adverse Events (SAEs)	Secondary Safety Outcome Measure	From enrollment through 90-Day follow-up visit

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Subgroup analysis for the following subgroups: (Clinical Site, Gender, Admission CT Hijdra Sum Score <23, WFNS grade, aneurysm location, anterior circulation aneurysm vs posterior circulation aneurysm location, infection requiring antibiotic treatment,	Participants will be followed for the duration of the hospital stay, an expected average of 3 weeks, 90-day follow-visit and 1 year follow-up visit

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Robert F. James
• Collaborators: Indiana University School of Medicine
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Robert F James, MD, Indiana University; Principal Investigator: J Marc Simard, MD, PhD, University of Maryland; Principal Investigator: J Mocco, MD, MSc, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; Principal Investigator: Kevin N Sheth, MD, Yale University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Simard JM, Schreibman D, Aldrich EF, Stallmeyer B, Le B, James RF, Beaty N. Unfractionated heparin: multitargeted therapy for delayed neurological deficits induced by subarachnoid hemorrhage. Neurocrit Care. 2010 Dec;13(3):439-49. doi: 10.1007/s12028-010-9435-1.
• Simard JM, Aldrich EF, Schreibman D, James RF, Polifka A, Beaty N. Low-dose intravenous heparin infusion in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: a preliminary assessment. J Neurosurg. 2013 Dec;119(6):1611-9. doi: 10.3171/2013.8.JNS1337. Epub 2013 Sep 13.
• Schweizer TA, Al-Khindi T, Macdonald RL. Mini-Mental State Examination versus Montreal Cognitive Assessment: rapid assessment tools for cognitive and functional outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. J Neurol Sci. 2012 May 15;316(1-2):137-40. doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2012.01.003. Epub 2012 Jan 26.
• Al-Khindi T, Macdonald RL, Schweizer TA. Cognitive and functional outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Stroke. 2010 Aug;41(8):e519-36. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.110.581975. Epub 2010 Jul 1.
• Wong GK, Lam SW, Ngai K, Wong A, Mok V, Poon WS. Quality of Life after Brain Injury (QOLIBRI) Overall Scale for patients after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. J Clin Neurosci. 2014 Jun;21(6):954-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2013.09.010. Epub 2013 Nov 9.
• Hong CM, Tosun C, Kurland DB, Gerzanich V, Schreibman D, Simard JM. Biomarkers as outcome predictors in subarachnoid hemorrhage--a systematic review. Biomarkers. 2014 Mar;19(2):95-108. doi: 10.3109/1354750X.2014.881418. Epub 2014 Feb 5.
• Romero FR, Bertolini Ede F, Figueiredo EG, Teixeira MJ. Serum C-reactive protein levels predict neurological outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2012 Mar;70(3):202-5. doi: 10.1590/s0004-282x2012000300009.
• Fountas KN, Tasiou A, Kapsalaki EZ, Paterakis KN, Grigorian AA, Lee GP, Robinson JS Jr. Serum and cerebrospinal fluid C-reactive protein levels as predictors of vasospasm in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Clinical article. Neurosurg Focus. 2009 May;26(5):E22. doi: 10.3171/2009.2.FOCUS08311.
• Tosun C, Kurland DB, Mehta R, Castellani RJ, deJong JL, Kwon MS, Woo SK, Gerzanich V, Simard JM. Inhibition of the Sur1-Trpm4 channel reduces neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment in subarachnoid hemorrhage. Stroke. 2013 Dec;44(12):3522-8. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.113.002904. Epub 2013 Oct 10.
• James RF, Shao EY, Page PS, Nazar RG, Martin LB, Dvorak J, Kanaan HK, Daniels MJ, Craycroft J, Rai SN, Everhart DE, Simard JM. Low-dose IV heparin preserves cognitive function in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage patients. [Unpublished Data]. Presented at AANS 82nd Annual Scientific Meeting. April 5-9, 2014. San Francisco, CA; Abstract #16572.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (ACTUAL): April 1, 2016
• Primary Completion (ANTICIPATED): January 1, 2023
• Study Completion (ANTICIPATED): January 1, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 13, 2015
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 15, 2015
• First Posted (ESTIMATE): July 17, 2015

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ACTUAL): March 4, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 17, 2022
• Last Verified: February 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Montreal Cognitive Assessment; unfractionated heparin; cerebral aneurysm; coil embolization; aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage; neurobehavioral manifestations; delayed ischemic neurological deficits
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Cardiovascular Diseases; Vascular Diseases; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Neurologic Manifestations; Hematologic Diseases; Blood Platelet Disorders; Intracranial Arterial Diseases; Intracranial Hemorrhages; Hemorrhage; Neurobehavioral Manifestations; Thrombocytopenia; Aneurysm; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage; Vasospasm, Intracranial; Intracranial Aneurysm; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Fibrinolytic Agents; Fibrin Modulating Agents; Anticoagulants; Heparin; Calcium heparin
• Other Study ID Numbers: 10550

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: There is no plan to share data other than through publication or requests to Robert James by other investigators.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes