Iron Chelation in the Prevention of Secondary Degeneration After Stroke (CHEL-IC)

Long-term Iron Chelation in the Prevention of Secondary Remote Degeneration After Stroke

Stroke is a major cause of disability over the world. While acute therapies have made huge progresses, the number of survivors leaving with clinical consequences of stroke is increasing. Beyond stroke itself, secondary neurodegeneration of disconnected areas, especially of central hubs such as the substantia nigra or the thalamus, could significantly impact the overall outcome of the patients. Data have identified iron accumulation within the disconnected areas as potentially accelerating neurodegeneration. In this research, the main objective is test whether long-term chelation through Deferiprone (Ferrirpox®, Chiesi) administered daily from 3-to-5 days following stroke to 6 months could avoid iron accumulation as measured with Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) within disconnected areas (substantia nigra).

MRI imaging methods such as the quantification of the transverse relaxation rate R2* provide highly correlated information to the histologically measured iron load

Study Overview

• Status: Terminated
• Conditions: Stroke
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI); Drug: Deferiprone treatment

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 11
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• France
  • Bordeaux, France, 33 076
    • CHU Bordeaux
  • Lille, France, 59000
    • CHU de Lille

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patient older than 18 years old.
• Covered by a social insurance
• With a stroke involving the deep territory of the middle cerebral artery (including at least half of the volume of the striatum) due to occlusion of the carotid artery or of proximal M1 or M2 segments. The artery can be occluded when the patient is admitted at the acute phase or already recanalized as soon as the striatum is involved.
• Absolute neutrophil count ≥1.5 x109/L.
• For women of childbearing potential, negative β HCG test and highly effective contraception (oestroprogestative contraception, intra-uterine device, bilateral salpingectomy) to be continued 6 months after the last administration of deferiprone.
• Men whose partner provides a highly effective contraception or who accept to use a contraception method (condom) while treated by deferiprone and to continue 90 days after the last administration of deferiprone
• Written informed consent dated and signed prior to the beginning of any procedures related to the clinical trial. Patients unable to give their personal consent (severe aphasia, impaired understanding or attention induced by the infarction) may be included with the consent by a trusted person provided in article L. 1111-6, by the family or by a person who has a close and stable relationship with the person concerned. The person concerned is informed as soon as possible and his consent is sought during visit at 3 month or 6 month if he regains his capacity to consent. These patients may be included because the treatment may be provided by the caregiver, or a home nurse for patients alone or for whom the caregiver is unable to follow the treatment. Most severe patients, in rehabilitation structure will have support for taking treatment and monitoring it

Exclusion Criteria:

• Contraindication to MRI.
• Pregnant or breast feeding women.
• Inability to swallow correctly (required for oral treatment).
• History of symptomatic cerebral infarct or hemorrhage.
• Pre-stroke modified Rankin Scale [mRS] score>2).
• History of severe cognitive impairment (dementia).
• History of recent (within the past 6 months) and evolving psychiatric disorders matching to axis 1 of the DSM-IV criteria.
• History of stroke directly involving substantia nigra or thalamus.
• Microbleed, or past hematoma involving substantia nigra; past hematoma involving thalamus.
• PH1 or PH2 hemorrhagic transformation.
• Hypersensitivity to Deferiprone or any of the excipients mentioned in section 6.1 of the Summary of Product characteristics of Ferriprox
• Patients with agranulocytosis or with a history of agranulocytosis.
• Patients with history of relapsing neutropenia.
• Patient with immunosuppression condition.
• Due to the risk of agranulocytosis caused by Deferiprone and the unknown mechanism by which this agranulocytosis is induced, combining Deferiprone with other medicinal products known to cause agranulocytosis will not be allowed. Such medicinal products include clozapine as well as some NSAIDs (e.g. Phenylbutazone or Metamizole), antithyroid agents, sulfonamide antibiotics or metothrexate.
• Patients with anaemia (regardless of latter aetiology) or a history of another haematological disease.
• Participation in another drug study (Investigational medical product) within 1 month prior to inclusion in the study.
• Kidney or liver failure.
• Patient in an emergency situation
• Patient under permanent guardianship.
• Patient subject to a safeguard measure of justice

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Deferiprone; Patients receiving Deferiprone during 6 months. Oral deferiprone for 6 months at a dose of 30 mg/kg/d	Procedure: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI); Quantification of iron will be performed through Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Drug: Deferiprone treatment; Patients receiving Deferiprone during 6 months. Oral deferiprone for 6 months at a dose of 30 mg/kg/d
Active Comparator: Treatment As usual; Patients followed during 6 months according to standard care	Procedure: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI); Quantification of iron will be performed through Magnetic Resonance Imaging

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
R2* Index within the homolateral black substance	Iron load : 95th percentile of the values of MRI R2*	Day 1
R2* Index within the homolateral black substance	Iron load : 95th percentile of the values of MRI R2*	6 Month

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
R2* Index within the thalamus and the middle nucleus of the homolateral thalamus	Iron load : 95th percentile of the values of MRI R2*	Day 1
R2* Index within the thalamus and the middle nucleus of the homolateral thalamus	Iron load : 95th percentile of the values of MRI R2*	6 Month
R2* Relaxivity values	R2* relaxivity values (95th percentile) measured on MRI	Day 1
R2* Relaxivity values	R2* relaxivity values (95th percentile) measured on MRI	6 Month
Fugl-Meyer Score	Fugl Meyer Upper Limb Motor Scale assesses tone, strength and motor of upper limbs. The total score is on 66 points for the upper limbs to which the evaluation will be limited. A higher score indicates better motor performance. The test time is about 20 minutes.	Day 1
Fugl-Meyer Score	Fugl Meyer Upper Limb Motor Scale assesses tone, strength and motor of upper limbs. The total score is on 66 points for the upper limbs to which the evaluation will be limited. A higher score indicates better motor performance. The test time is about 20 minutes.	3 Month
Fugl-Meyer Score	Fugl Meyer Upper Limb Motor Scale assesses tone, strength and motor of upper limbs. The total score is on 66 points for the upper limbs to which the evaluation will be limited. A higher score indicates better motor performance. The test time is about 20 minutes.	6 Month
Box and Block test Score	Manual dexterity of the upper limbs. The test consists of a 2-compartment box containing 150 blocks in one compartment. The patient must pass the maximum number of blocks to the second compartment in 1 minute. The maximum score is 150. A higher score indicates better manual dexterity. The score is evaluated for the right hand and left hand. The test duration is 5 minutes.	Day 1
Box and Block test Score	Manual dexterity of the upper limbs. The test consists of a 2-compartment box containing 150 blocks in one compartment. The patient must pass the maximum number of blocks to the second compartment in 1 minute. The maximum score is 150. A higher score indicates better manual dexterity. The score is evaluated for the right hand and left hand. The test duration is 5 minutes.	3 Month
Box and Block test Score	Manual dexterity of the upper limbs. The test consists of a 2-compartment box containing 150 blocks in one compartment. The patient must pass the maximum number of blocks to the second compartment in 1 minute. The maximum score is 150. A higher score indicates better manual dexterity. The score is evaluated for the right hand and left hand. The test duration is 5 minutes.	6 Month
Modified Rankin scale Score	Disability rating scale. Score from 0 : no symptoms at all ; to 5 : severe disability	Day 1
Modified Rankin scale Score	Disability rating scale. Score from 0 : no symptoms at all ; to 5 : severe disability	3 Month
Modified Rankin scale Score	Disability rating scale. Score from 0 : no symptoms at all ; to 5 : severe disability	6 Month
Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) Score	Cognitive functions evaluation in the areas of attention, concentration, executive functions, episodic memory, language, constructive visual practices, abstract abilities, computation and orientation. The maximum score is 30 points and the pathological threshold is 26/30. The duration of passing is about 15 minutes.	Day 1
Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) Score	Cognitive functions evaluation in the areas of attention, concentration, executive functions, episodic memory, language, constructive visual practices, abstract abilities, computation and orientation. The maximum score is 30 points and the pathological threshold is 26/30. The duration of passing is about 15 minutes.	3 Month
Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) Score	Cognitive functions evaluation in the areas of attention, concentration, executive functions, episodic memory, language, constructive visual practices, abstract abilities, computation and orientation. The maximum score is 30 points and the pathological threshold is 26/30. The duration of passing is about 15 minutes.	6 Month
Center for epidemiologic studies depression scale (CES-D)	Existence of a depressive syndrome. It consists of 20 moral status questions in the previous week that the patient answers on a 6-level Likert scale that are then converted into points. The score corresponds to the sum of the points for the 20 questions and ranges from 0 to 60. The score is higher the more severe the depressive disorders. The depressive threshold is typically considered to be >23 in women and >17 in men. The transfer time is about 10 minutes.	Day 1
Center for epidemiologic studies depression scale (CES-D)	Existence of a depressive syndrome. It consists of 20 moral status questions in the previous week that the patient answers on a 6-level Likert scale that are then converted into points. The score corresponds to the sum of the points for the 20 questions and ranges from 0 to 60. The score is higher the more severe the depressive disorders. The depressive threshold is typically considered to be >23 in women and >17 in men. The transfer time is about 10 minutes.	3 Month
Center for epidemiologic studies depression scale (CES-D)	Existence of a depressive syndrome. It consists of 20 moral status questions in the previous week that the patient answers on a 6-level Likert scale that are then converted into points. The score corresponds to the sum of the points for the 20 questions and ranges from 0 to 60. The score is higher the more severe the depressive disorders. The depressive threshold is typically considered to be >23 in women and >17 in men. The transfer time is about 10 minutes.	6 Month
Generalized anxiety disorder scale (GAD-7) scale	Anxiety disorders assessment through 7 questions on items related to anxiety experienced during the previous 14 days that the patient answers on a 4-level Likert scale that are then converted into points. The score corresponds to the sum of the points for the 7 questions and ranges from 0 to 21. The higher the score, the more severe the anxiety disorders. The thresholds are usually: 0-4 points = no anxiety; 5-9 points = mild anxiety; 10-14 points = moderate anxiety; 15-21 points = severe anxiety. The transfer time is 5 to 10 minutes.	Day 1
Generalized anxiety disorder scale (GAD-7) scale	Anxiety disorders assessment through 7 questions on items related to anxiety experienced during the previous 14 days that the patient answers on a 4-level Likert scale that are then converted into points. The score corresponds to the sum of the points for the 7 questions and ranges from 0 to 21. The higher the score, the more severe the anxiety disorders. The thresholds are usually: 0-4 points = no anxiety; 5-9 points = mild anxiety; 10-14 points = moderate anxiety; 15-21 points = severe anxiety. The transfer time is 5 to 10 minutes.	3 Month
Generalized anxiety disorder scale (GAD-7) scale	Anxiety disorders assessment through 7 questions on items related to anxiety experienced during the previous 14 days that the patient answers on a 4-level Likert scale that are then converted into points. The score corresponds to the sum of the points for the 7 questions and ranges from 0 to 21. The higher the score, the more severe the anxiety disorders. The thresholds are usually: 0-4 points = no anxiety; 5-9 points = mild anxiety; 10-14 points = moderate anxiety; 15-21 points = severe anxiety. The transfer time is 5 to 10 minutes.	6 Month

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University Hospital, Bordeaux
• Investigators: Study Director: Thomas TOURDIAS, University Hospital, Bordeaux

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 8, 2022
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 17, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): April 22, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 22, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 26, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): November 8, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 21, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 18, 2025
• Last Verified: July 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Stroke; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Iron accumulation; Deferiprone; Neuroprotective treatment
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Cerebrovascular Disorders; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Vascular Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases; Stroke; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Chelating Agents; Sequestering Agents; Iron Chelating Agents; Deferiprone
• Other Study ID Numbers: CHUBX 2019/49

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No