Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Recruiting

NCT Number: NCT04696523

Effect of Xenon on Brain Injury After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

An investigator-initiated clinical drug study

Main Objective:

To explore neuroprotective properties of xenon in patients after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).

Primary endpoint: Global fractional anisotropy of white matter of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Hypothesis: White matter damage is less severe in xenon treated patients, i.e. global fractional anisotropy is significantly higher in the xenon group than in the control group as assessed with the 1st magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

After confirmation of aSAH and obtaining a signed assent subjects will be randomized to the following groups:

Control group: Standard of Care (SOC) group: Air/oxygen and Normothermia 36.5-37.5°C; Xenon group: Normothermia 36.5-37.5°C +Xenon inhalation in air/oxygen for 24 hours. Brain magnetic resonance imaging techniques will be undertaken to evaluate the effects of the intervention on white and grey matter damage and neuronal loss. Neurological outcome will be evaluated at 3, 12 and 24 months after onset of aSAH symptoms Investigational drug/treatment, dose and mode of administration: 50±2 % end tidal concentration of inhaled xenon in oxygen/air.

Comparative drug(s)/placebo/treatment, dose and mode of administration: Standard of care treatment according to local and international consensus reports.

Duration of treatment: 24 hours

Assessments:

Baseline data Information that characterizes the participant's condition prior to initiation of experimental treatment is obtained as soon as is clinically reasonable. These include participant demographics, medical history, vital signs, oxygen saturation, and concentration of oxygen administered.

Acute data The collected information will contain quantitative and qualitative data of aSAH patients, as recommended by recent recommendations of the working group on subject characteristics, and including all relevant Common Data Elements (CDE) can be applied. Specific definitions, measurements tools, and references regarding each SAH CDE can be found on the weblink here: https://www.commondataelements.ninds.nih.gov/SAH.aspx#tab=Data_Standards.

Recruiting

Interested in participating?

Request Info

Key information

Conditions

Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, Aneurysmal Brain Diseases Brain Infarction Brain Injuries Brain Ischemia Cardiac Event Cardiac Failure Cardiovascular Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Cerebral Infarction Cerebral Injury Cerebral Ischemia Cerebrovascular Disorders Craniocerebral Trauma Heart Diseases Heart Failure Hemorrhage Infarction Intracranial Hemorrhages Ischemia Necrosis Nervous System Diseases Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Stroke Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Trauma, Nervous System Vascular Diseases Wounds and Injuries

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 2

Primary location

Aalto University School of Science, Helsinki, Finland

Loading trial locations.

About this study

Assessments of efficacy:

  • A brain Computer tomography angiography (CTA) and / or 3 D Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) (whenever possible instead of 2D DSA) will be performed at hospital arrival and whenever clinically indicated.
  • 1st 3 Tesla MRI 72 ± 24 hours after onset of aSAH symptoms; 2nd 3 Tesla MRI 42 ± 4 days after onset of aSAH symptoms.
  • 3D DSA: Computational fluid dynamic simulations (CFD), artificial intelligence and machine learning.
  • Brain Positron emission tomography (PET): The 1st 4 ± 1 weeks and the 2nd at 3 months after onset of aSAH symptoms.
  • Biochemical assessment: A blood samples of 20 ml for determination of plasma catecholamines, plasma metabolomics (see details of metabolomics in section 18.4.7), cardiac enzyme release (P-hs-troponin-T and heart fatty-acid binding protein), selected biomarkers will be analysed at intensive crae unit (ICU) arrival and at 24h, at 48h and at 72h after onset of SAH symptoms. In addition, a sample of spinal fluid will be collected through external ventricular drainage (EVD) at ICU arrival or as soon as it is in place and at 24h, at 48h and at 72h after onset of SAH symptoms for assessment of metabolomics
  • Electrocardiograph (ECG) at ICU arrival and at 24h, at 48h and at 72h after onset of aSAH symptoms.
  • Neurological evaluation: at 3, 12 and at 24 months after aSAH with GOSe, Modified ranking score (mRS).

Statistical methods: 1) Basic statistical tests (t-tests, Mann-Whitney, Chi square, etc); 2) Survival analysis methods; 3) An analysis of variance for repeated measurements; 4) A sample size of 100 is estimated on the basis of a recent studies in SAH patients to provide 80% power with a 2-sided α level of 0.05 to detect a mean difference of 0.02 (SD 0.035) in the global fractional anisotropy of white matter between the xenon group and the control group (98). Accordingly, this mean difference is estimated to have a predictive value for DCI and poor neurological outcome (i.e. mRS 3-6).Significance level of 0.05 and an estimation of 95 % confidence intervals will be used in the statistical analyses.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

To be considered eligible to participate in this study, a SAH subject must meet the inclusion criteria listed below:

  • Informed consent obtained from the next of kin or legal representative
  • Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage visible on CTA or DSA.
  • Deterioration of consciousness to Hunt-Hess 3-5
  • Age of ≥ 18 years
  • Intubated.
  • GCS 3-12 obtained off neuromuscular blocking agents
  • Xenon treatment can be started within 6 hours after onset of SAH symptoms

Exclusion criteria

An aSAH subject may not be enrolled in the trial if he/she meets any one of the exclusion criteria below:

  • Acute or chronic traumatic brain injury
  • Maximum diameter of intracerebral hemorrhage > 2.5 cm
  • Pneumothorax or pneumomediastinum,
  • Acute lung injury requiring ≥ 60% FIO2 (fraction of inspired oxygen).
  • Systolic arterial pressure < 80 mmHg or mean arterial pressure < 60 mmHg for over 30 min period
  • Bilaterally fixed and dilated pupils
  • Positive pregnancy test, known pregnancy, or current breast-feeding
  • Neurological deficiency due to traumatic brain injury or other neurological illness
  • Imminent death or current life-threatening disease
  • Current enrollment in another interventional study
  • The subject is known to have clinically significant laboratory abnormality, medical condition (such as decompensated liver disease or severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), or social circumstance that, in the investigator's opinion, makes it inappropriate for the subject to participate in this clinical trial.
  • Presence of implants or foreign bodies which are not known to be MRI safe

Treatment and study plan

Xenon

Drug

Xenon arm will be treated with xenon inhalation with endtidal concentration of 50 % in air/oxygen and with standard of care

air/oxygen

Drug

Control group will be treated with air/oxygen

Primary outcomes

  1. Fractional anisotropy of the white matter

    Time frame: 48-96 hours after start of aSAH symptoms

    Global fractional anisotropy of white matter of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Hypothesis: White matter damage is less severe in xenon treated patients, i.e. global fractional anisotropy is significantly higher in the xenon group than in the control group as assessed with the 1st MRI.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Fractional anisotropy of white matter at cerebellum and/or at corpus callosum as assessed with the 1st MRI.

    Time frame: 48-96 hours after start of aSAH symptoms

    Fractional anisotropy of white matter at cerebellum and/or at corpus callosum as assessed with the 1st MRI.

  2. Safety and tolerability of xenon

    Time frame: during the follow-up of one year

    Safety and tolerability of xenon as assessed with a ratio of adverse events, serious adverse events and suspected unexpected serious adverse reactions (SUSARs) during the follow-up of one year between the xenon group and the control group.

  3. Composite of radiological early brain injury (EBI) and delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI)

    Time frame: EBI: within first 72 hours after start of aSAH symptoms; mRS at 3 months and at 1 year and at 2 years after onset of aSAH symptoms

    Composite of radiological EBI (within 72 hours after start of SAH symptoms) and DCI (Criterion of DCI: 1. a new focal neurological deficit (such as hemiparesis, aphasia, apraxia, hemianopia, or neglect) /decrease in level of consciousness (i.e. decrease of at least 2 points on the Glasgow Coma Scale; either on the total score or on one of its individual components, such as eye, motor on either side, or verbal). This should last for at least 1 hour and not is due to other causes (e.g. hydrocephalus, seizures, metabolic derangement, infection, sedation) and is not apparent immediately after aneurysm occlusion, and cannot be attributed to other causes by means of clinical assessment, CT or MRI scanning of the brain, and appropriate laboratory studies, 2. a new infarct on follow-up imaging (i.e. in any of the following: 2nd MRI, CT, CTA, DSA and perfusion CT) after 4 days post-SAH, or 3. both 1 and 2), and poor outcome at 3-months (good: mRS 0-2; poor: mRS 3-6) at 3-months and at 1 year

  4. Neurogenic Stress Cardiomyopathy and Stunned Myocardium

    Time frame: follow-up of 1 year

    Neurogenic Stress Cardiomyopathy and Stunned Myocardium (i.e. myocardial injury caused by sympathetic storm and autonomic dysregulation with hs-troponin elevation, left ventricular dysfunction or ECG changes)

  5. Intracerebral pressure (ICP)

    Time frame: during ICU stay up to 14 days after onset of aSAH symptoms

    ICP level

    Duration of therapy for ICP control/monitoring

  6. Intracerebral pressure (ICP)

    Time frame: during ICU stay up to 14 days after onset of aSAH symptoms

    Need for ICP therapies (hypothermia, decompressive craniotomy)

  7. Intracerebral pressure (ICP)

    Time frame: during ICU stay up to 14 days after onset of aSAH symptoms

    Duration of therapy for ICP control/monitoring

  8. Plasma catecholamine level

    Time frame: within 3 hours of ICU arrival, at 24h, 48h and 72 h after onset of aSAH symptoms

    Plasma level of noradrenaline , adrenaline, and dopamine

  9. Selected biomarkers

    Time frame: within 3 hours of ICU arrival and at 24h, at 48h and at 72h after onset of aSAH symptoms

    Selected biomarkers of brain injury: neurofilament light (NF-L), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), calcium binding protein S100B (S100B), ubiquitin carboxyterminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1), total tau, cytokines (tumour necrosis factor alpha, interleukins 6 and 10)

  10. Development of prognostication models

    Time frame: long-term outcome at 3 months, at 1 and at 2 years after onset of aSAH symptoms

    Development of prognostication models with a selected combination of brain imaging, clinical data, biomarkers and metabolomics by applying artificial intelligence and machine learning for long-term outcome after aSAH

  11. Development of prognostication models

    Time frame: between day 4 and 6 weeks after onset of aSAH symtoms

    Development of prognostication models with a selected combination of brain imaging, clinical data, biomarkers and metabolomics by applying artificial intelligence and machine learning for DCI after aSAH

  12. Development of prognostication models

    Time frame: within 21 days after onset of aSAH symptoms

    Development of prognostication models with a selected combination of brain imaging, clinical data, biomarkers and metabolomics by applying artificial intelligence and machine learning for vasospasm after aSAH

  13. Development of prognostication models

    Time frame: within 72 hours after onset of aSAH symtoms

    Development of prognostication models with a selected combination of brain imaging, clinical data, biomarkers and metabolomics by applying artificial intelligence and machine learning for EBI after aSAH

  14. Difference of MRI parameters between xenon and control group

    Time frame: within 72 hours after onset of aSAH symptoms

    Difference of MRI parameters (fractional anisotropy, axial diffucivity, radial diffucivity of diffusion tensor imaging, DTI) between xenon and control group and in predicting risk for EBI

  15. Difference of MRI parameters between xenon and control group

    Time frame: within 21 days after onset of aSAH symptoms

    Difference of MRI parameters (fractional anisotropy, axial diffucivity, radial diffucivity of DTI) between xenon and control group and in predicting risk for vasospasm

  16. Difference of MRI parameters between xenon and control group

    Time frame: between day 4 and 6 weeks after onset of aSAH symptoms

    Difference of MRI parameters (fractional anisotropy, axial diffucivity, radial diffucivity of DTI) between xenon and control group and in predicting risk for DCI

  17. Difference of MRI parameters between xenon and control group

    Time frame: at 3 months, at 1 year and at 2 years after onset of aSAH symptoms

    Difference of MRI parameters (fractional anisotropy, axial diffucivity, radial diffucivity of DTI) between xenon and control group and in predicting risk for good/poor neurological outcome at 3 moths, at 1 year and at 2 years after onset of aSAH symptoms (mRS 0-2/mRS 3-6).

  18. Difference of CTA findings

    Time frame: within 72 hours after onset of aSAH symptoms

    Difference of CTA ischemic findings between xenon and control group and in predicting risk for EBI

  19. Difference of CTA findings

    Time frame: within 21 days after onset of aSAH symptoms

    Difference of ischemic findings in CTA between xenon and control group and in predicting risk for vasospasm

  20. Difference of CTA findings

    Time frame: between day 4 and 6 weeks after onset of aSAH symptoms

    Difference of ischemic findings in CTA between xenon and control group and in predicting risk for DCI

  21. Difference of CTA findings between xenon and control group

    Time frame: at 3 months, at 1 year and at 2 years after onset of aSAH symptoms

    Difference of ischemic findings in CTA between xenon and control group and in predicting risk for good/poor neurological outcome at 3 moths, at 1 year and at 2 years after onset of aSAH symptoms (mRS 0-2/mRS 3-6).

  22. Difference of DSA findings between xenon and control group

    Time frame: within 72 hours after onset of aSAH symptoms

    Difference of DSA findings indicating ischemic pattern of perfusion between xenon and control group and in predicting risk for EBI

  23. Difference of DSA findings between xenon and control group

    Time frame: within 21 days after onset of aSAH symptoms

    Difference of DSA findings indicating ischemic pattern of perfusion between xenon and control group and in predicting risk for vasospasm

  24. Difference of DSA findings between xenon and control group

    Time frame: between day 4 and 6 weeks after onset of aSAH symptoms

    Difference of DSA findings indicating ischemic pattern of perfusion between xenon and control group and in predicting risk for DCI

  25. Difference of DSA findings between xenon and control group

    Time frame: at 3 months, at 1 year and at 2 years after onset of aSAH symptoms

    Difference of DSA findings indicating ischemic pattern of perfusion between xenon and control group and in predicting risk for good/poor neurological outcome at 3 moths, at 1 year and at 2 years after onset of aSAH symptoms (mRS 0-2/mRS 3-6).

  26. Activity of microglia cells assessed with PET

    Time frame: DCI between day 4 and 6 weeks after onset of aSAH symptoms; The 1st PETscan 4 ±1 weeks after onset of aSAH symptoms and the 2nd scan at 3 months after onset of SAH symptoms.

    It will be explored whether [11C](R)-PK11195 can be used to test the hypothesis of neuroprotective effect of xenon and to explore the role of inflammatory process for DCI after SAH. This could be demonstrated by showing less microglial activation in xenon group than in the reference therapy group and in the patients with good outcome, i.e. no DCI; Difference of activity of microglia cells between xenon and control group and in predicting risk for DCI

  27. Activity of microglia cells assessed with PET

    Time frame: The 1st scan at 4 ±1 weeks after and the 2nd scan at 3 months after onset of SAH symptoms. Outcome: at 3 months, at 1 year and at 2 years after onset of aSAH symptoms

    It will be explored whether [11C](R)-PK11195 can be used to test the hypothesis of neuroprotective effect of xenon and to explore the role of inflammatory process for neurological outcome after SAH. This could be demonstrated by showing less microglial activation in xenon group than in the reference therapy group and in the patients with good outcome, i.e. mRS 0-2;

  28. Cerebral fluid dynamics

    Time frame: Measures performed within 72 hours of ICU arrival

    Predictive value of CFD simulations assessed with 3 dimensional DSA within 4 days of ICU arrival in predicting risk for EBI within 72 hours after onset of aSAH symptoms

  29. Cerebral fluid dynamics

    Time frame: Measures performed within 21 days of ICU arrival; outcome at 3 months, at 1 year and at 2 years after onset of aSAH symptoms

    Predictive value of CFD simulations assessed with 3 dimensional DSA within 21 days of ICU arrival in predicting risk for neurological outcome at 3 months, at 1 year and at 2 years after SAH (mRS 0-2)

  30. Cerebral fluid dynamics

    Time frame: Measures performed within 21 days of ICU arrival; DCI within 6 weeks after onset of aSAH symptoms

    Predictive value of CFD simulations assessed with 3 dimensional DSA within 21 days of ICU arrival in predicting risk for DCI within 6 weeks after onset of aSAH symptoms

Study contacts

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

Timo T Laitio, MD, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

+358504653201

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Turku University Hospital

Other Gov

Collaborators

  • Academy of Finland

Registry information

Official study title

Effect of Xenon on Brain Injury, Neurological Outcome and Survival in Patients After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Acronym: Xe-SAH

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2029
Study completion
2029
First posted
Jan 6, 2021
Registry last updated
May 1, 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.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.