A pilot study confirmed the feasibility and safety of neuroprotectant RK-4 intracalvariosseous(ICO) injection in patients with malignant middle cerebral artery infarction (mMCAI), showing a trend in improving 90-day functional scores compared to conventional treatment. The aim of this trial is to investigate the feasibility and safety of neuroprotective agent RK-4 injection using intracalvariosseous injection device in patients with acute large hemispheric infarction (LHI) who has contraindications of reperfusion therapy or have got poor reperfusion therapy outcomes.
The mortality rate of large hemispheric infarction (LHI) is up to 40%-60%, while current available treatment is limited. Mainstream therapeutics include endovascular reperfusion therapy and decompressive craniectomy. But endovascular-reperfusion has limits such as short time window and hemorrhagic transformation risk, while decompressive craniectomy can reduce mortality but not infarct volume. Curative effect of intravenous injection of neuroprotective drugs is severely limited because of the blood-brain barrier. Microchannels connecting the skull bone marrow and dura may be effective drug delivery shortcuts bypassing the blood-brain barrier. Cytoprotective drug RK-4 affects dual aspects of ischemic cascade by disrupting both function of the synaptic folding post-synaptic density protein 95 (PSD-95), as well as α2-v#Aminobutyric acid type A receptor (α2-GABAAR) agonist. Phase I and Phase II clinical trials have confirmed the safety and efficacy of intravenous infusion of RK-4 in treating cerebral infarction, with the optimal dosage being 40mg. Preclinical testing proved that ICO injection of RK-4 solution 24h post rat permanent middle cerebral artery infarction reduced rat infarction volume and improved neurological function. Previously, our team has conducted the RK-4 intracalvariosseous administration in the earlier SOLUTION clinical trail through the existing neurosurgical devices. Although the safety and efficacy were preliminarily demonstrated, present administration device is not minimally invasive and requires operation in the ICU, which leads to a higher risk of the inner plate penetration. The new intracalvariosseous injection device shows promising prospective in precise control of the drilling speed and depth, and better achievement of accurate, high-efficiency and microinvasive drug delivery. The study is a single-centered, prospective, randomized, open-label study. The purpose of this study is to investigate the feasibility and safety of RK-4 injection using intracalvariosseous injection device in acute LHI patients with contraindications of reperfusion therapy or poor outcomes. Patients will be randomly assigned to one of the following 2 groups at 1:1 ratio. ICO injection group: RK-4 ICO injection through intracalvariosseous injection device (using an electric bone drill to drill 3 holes (each for 1-time administration) from the outer plate of the skull without penetrating the inner cranial plate), dose was given as 32 ug/kg once a day for 3 consecutive days, as well as standard treatment and management according to the related guidelines. Conventional treatment group: Conventional treatment group will receive standard treatment and management according to related guidelines. Face to face interviews will be made on baseline, 4±1 days after randomization, 8±1 days after randomization, 14±1 days after randomization or discharge day, and 90±7 days,180±14 days after randomization. The primary outcomes include feasibility outcomes and safety outcomes. Feasibility Outcomes include the internal plate of skull was drilled thoroughly, drug leakage during injection, the patient refused to continue, failure for other reasons during 3 days'treatment. Safety Outcomes includes Infection events (skin infection, osteomyelitis, or intracranial infection), symptomatic and non- symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, moderate to severe bleeding (defined by the GUSTO), hepatic insufficiency, severe renal insufficiency during the treatment, severe or extremely severe anaemia (hemoglobin \<60g / L), mortality, incidence of other adverse events / serious adverse events reported. The secondary outcomes include the effectiveness outcomes. The effectiveness outcomes include change of Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores from baseline values to 14±1 days or at discharge, the change of the The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores from baseline to 14±1 days or at discharge, the modified Rankin Scale(mRS) 0-3 points at 90±7 days and the mRS 0-3 points at 180±14 days. A Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) will regularly monitor safety during the study. The trial has been approved by Institutional Review Board (IRB) and Ethics Committee (EC) in Being Tiantan hospital, Capital Medical University.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
6
Patients included will be given skull outer plate drilling surgery and RK-4 ICO injection under local anesthesia and sedation using the intracalvariosseous injection device. The drilling and injection will be conducted once a day for 3 consecutive days.
standard treatment and management according to related guidelines
Beijing Tiantan Hospital
Beijing, China
Failed of drilling
The rate of the internal plate of skull was drilled through
Time frame: during 3 days of treatment
Number of drug-leakage events
Number of drug-leakage events
Time frame: during 3 days of treatment
Patients' tolerance of therapy
The number of patients who refused to continue the treatment because of the intolerance
Time frame: during 3 days of treatment
Failed for other reasons
Number of failed for other reasons
Time frame: during 3 days of treatment
Rate of participants with infection events
Rate of participants with infection events (including skin infection, osteomyelitis of skull, or intracranial infection)
Time frame: within 90±7 days after randomization
Rate of intracranial hemorrhage
Rate of symptomatic and non-symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage
Time frame: within 90±7 days after randomization
Rate of bleeding
Rate of bleeding (moderate to severe bleeding, defined by the GUSTO)
Time frame: within 90±7 days after randomization
Rate of hepatic insufficiency
Rate of hepatic insufficiency: serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), or aspartate aminotransferase (AST) \> 5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN), or alkaline phosphatase (APL)\> 2 times the ULN or the multiple of the abnormal baseline value before medication; Or, serum total bilirubin (TBil) \> 2.5 mg/dL (42.75 μmol/L), accompanied by increased levels of serum AST, ALT or ALP.
Time frame: within 90±7 days after randomization
Rate of severe renal insufficiency
Rate of severe renal insufficiency: estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)\<30 ml/min/1.73m2 during the treatment.
Time frame: within 90±7 days after randomization
Severe or extremely severe anaemia
Severe or extremely severe anaemia (hemoglobin \<60g / L)
Time frame: within 90±7 days after randomization
Mortality
Mortality
Time frame: within 90±7 days after randomization
Adverse events / serious adverse events
Incidence of other adverse events / serious adverse events reported.
Time frame: within 90±7 days after randomization
Change of GCS scores from baseline
The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score is a validated and reliable scale to evaluate level of consciousness in patients. The scale assesses 3 functions: Eye Opening, Verbal Response, and Motor Response. GCS scores range from 15 (best) to 3 (worst).
Time frame: baseline#14±1 days after randomization or at discharge
Change of the NIHSS scores from baseline
Change of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores from baseline to 14±1days or at discharge. The NIHSS is a standardized neurological examination score that is a valid and reliable measure of disability and recovery after acute stroke. Scores range from 0 to 42, with higher scores indicating increasing severity.
Time frame: 14±1 days after randomization or at discharge
90 days functional improvement
The modified Rankin Scale 0-3 points at 90±7 days. Functional improvement is defined as a dichotomized modified Rankin Scale(mRS) 0-3 outcome. The mRS is a commonly used scale for measuring the degree of disability or dependence in the daily activities of people who have suffered a stroke or other causes of neurological disability. The scale runs from 0-6 with "0" being perfect health without symptoms to "6" being death. Score 0: No symptoms Score 1: No significant disability. Able to carry out all usual activities, despite some symptoms. Score 2: Slight disability. Able to look after own affairs without assistance, but unable to carry out all previous activities. Score 3: Moderate disability. Requires some help, but able to walk unassisted. Score 4: Moderately severe disability. Unable to attend to own bodily needs without assistance, and unable to walk unassisted. Score 5: Severe disability. Requires constant nursing care and attention, bedridden, incontinent. Score 6: Dead
Time frame: 90±7 days after randomization
180 days functional improvement
The modified Rankin Scale 0-3 points at 180±14 days. Functional improvement is defined as a dichotomized modified Rankin Scale(mRS) 0-3 outcome. The mRS is a commonly used scale for measuring the degree of disability or dependence in the daily activities of people who have suffered a stroke or other causes of neurological disability. The scale runs from 0-6 with "0" being perfect health without symptoms to "6" being death. Score 0: No symptoms Score 1: No significant disability. Able to carry out all usual activities, despite some symptoms. Score 2: Slight disability. Able to look after own affairs without assistance, but unable to carry out all previous activities. Score 3: Moderate disability. Requires some help, but able to walk unassisted. Score 4: Moderately severe disability. Unable to attend to own bodily needs without assistance, and unable to walk unassisted. Score 5: Severe disability. Requires constant nursing care and attention, bedridden, incontinent. Score 6: Dead
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Time frame: 180±14 days after randomization