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NCT Number: NCT05482945

CardioPulmonary Resuscitation With Argon (CPAr) Trial

Preclinical studies suggest that argon (Ar) might diminish the neurological and myocardial damage after any hypoxic-ischemic insult. Indeed, Ar has been tested in different models of ischemic insult, at concentrations ranging from 20% up to 80%. Overall, Ar emerged as a protective agent on cells, tissues and organs, showing less cell death, reduced infarct size and faster functional recovery. More specifically, encouraging data has been reported in animal studies on cardiac arrest (CA) in which a better and faster neurological recovery was achieved when Ar was used in the post-resuscitation ventilation. More importantly, these benefits have been replicated in different studies, enrolling both small and large animals. Finally, ventilation with Ar in O2 has been demonstrated to be safe both in animals and humans. Based on this evidence, a clinical translation is advocated. Thus, the CardioPulmonary resuscitation with Argon - CPAr trial has been conceived. The trial initially started as phase I-II trial to specifically address the question about the safety of the post resuscitation Ar-treatment. The available data on the first 30 randomized patients, evaluated by the Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB), were considered absolutely reassuring with regard to the safety of the experimental treatment. In this perspective, the DSMB supported the continuation of the study as a phase II trial, maintaining the study protocol in all its aspects. Thus, the aim of the CPAr trial is now to evaluate efficacy in reducing post-CA neurological injury of Ar/O2 ventilation in patients resuscitated from CA.

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Key information

Conditions

Cardiac Arrest, Out-Of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest With Successful Resuscitation Cardiovascular Diseases Heart Arrest Heart Diseases Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 2

Primary location

Ospedale Policlinico San Martino di Genova, Genova, GE, Italy

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About this study

The trial is a multicenter, randomized, controlled, single blinded, phase II and pre marketing study in patients resuscitated from Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).

All eligible patients will be treated in full and documented compliance with the European ResuscitationCouncil (ERC)/European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (international guidelines and local post resuscitation protocols). In addition, a randomized assignment ensures a strict comparability for both the periods of data collection of safety end-points (to be assessed blindly by the events Committee): the four hours of duration of study treatment, and the longer period of possibly related clinical events during 6 months follow up.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • ICU admission after resuscitation from witnessed non-traumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) of presumably cardiac etiology with a presenting shockable rhythm;
  • age ≥ 18 years;
  • unconsciousness after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC);
  • duration of CPR ≤ 40 mins;
  • initiation of study intervention ≤ 4 hrs from ROSC;
  • stable SaO2 ≥ 94% with a FiO2 of 30%.

Exclusion criteria

  • Non-witnessed CA;
  • CA of traumatic origin or from a non-presumably cardiac cause;
  • CA with a non-shockable presenting rhythm (pulseless electrical activity and asystole);
  • female of childbearing potential defined as younger of 50 years;
  • pregnancy;
  • known terminal illness;
  • pre-CA cerebral performance category (CPC) ≥ 3;
  • initiation of the study intervention > 4 hrs from ROSC;
  • participation to another clinical trial

Treatment and study plan

Noble gas Argon

Drug

Ventilation with Ar 70%/O2 30% in comatose patients resuscitated from OHCA with the use of an experimental mechanical ventilator.

Primary outcomes

  1. Neuronal preservation

    Time frame: 48 hours

    Efficacy of Argon treatment in reducing post-CA neurological injury, assessed as 48hr serum concentration of the Neuron Specific Enolase (NSE), an established biomarker of brain injury.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Myocardial preservation

    Time frame: Up to 96 hours

    Ar effect on myocardial protection is assessed through measure of hs-cTnT release

  2. Brain injury

    Time frame: 96 hours

    Ar effect on brain injury is assessed through MRI (imaging) if patient remains comatose

  3. Survival

    Time frame: ICU discharge (assessed up to 7 days), 1-month, 6 months

    Effect of argon on survival after cardiac arrest (days)

  4. Neurological recovery

    Time frame: ICU discharge (assessed up to 7 days), 1-month, 6 months

    Neurological functional recovery is assessed with the CPC score

  5. Multiorgan function

    Time frame: Up to 96 hours

    Multiorgan function is assessed through the evaluation of sequential organ failure assessment score (SOFA). The score sequentially assesses the presence and severity of dysfunctions in six organ systems: respiratory, cardiovascular, coagulation, hepatic, neurological and renal scoring 0 to 4 points per each one of the following:

    PaO2-fiO2 ratio; Mean arterial pressure (mmHg) or vasoactive treatment; Creatinine (mg/dL) or 24-h diuresis (ml/24h); Platelet count (x103/mm3); Serum bilirubin (mg/dL); Glasgow coma scale

    The following markers are also assessed:

    transaminases (UI/L) Pancreatic amilase, lipase (UI/L)

  6. Incidence of Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events

    Time frame: 1 month

    The incidence, the timing, and the duration of the need to stop Ar 70% treatment in order to maintain the SPO2> 90%.

    The incidence of potentially Ar-attributable hemodynamic adverse events (i.e. arterial hypotension not responsive to fluids and/or vasoactive/inotropic drugs).

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Antonella Vasamì

CONTACT

[email protected]

+39 02390141 ext. 4450

Giulia Merigo, MSc

CONTACT

[email protected]

+39 0250320463

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research

Other

Registry information

Acronym: CPAr

Important dates

Study start
2022
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Aug 1, 2022
Registry last updated
Sep 17, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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