The Darbepoetin Alfa for Ischemic Surgical Complications (DISC) Dose Finding Trial

Numerous neuroprotectants have been effective when given prior to ischemic stroke in animals, yet they have all have failed when given after ischemic stroke in humans. A novel approach to ischemic neuroprotection is needed. Many patients who undergo cardiac, vascular, and neurosurgical procedures develop ischemic central nervous system (CNS) complications. These high risk surgeries present a unique opportunity to administer neuroprotectant medication prior to the injury, greatly increasing the likelihood that it will have a positive impact on outcomes. Patients undergoing descending thoracic aortic (DTA) and thoracoabdominal aortic (TAA) surgery have a particularly high rate of both brain and spine ischemia. In addition, these surgeries require placement of a lumbar cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drain, allowing access to CSF in order to monitor markers of injury and penetration of medication into the CNS. We performed a pilot dose finding trial of prophylactic darbepoetin alfa, a long-acting erythropoiesis medication with putative neuroprotectant properties, in patients undergoing DTA and TAA surgery. This dose finding trial was stopped early after 9 patients were enrolled at the request of the FDA after an unrelated trial of erythropoietin in acute stroke performed in Germany was negative and showed possible harm in those patients who received intravenous tissue plasminogen activaor (tPA). We then enrolled 9 additional patients who did not receive any intervention in order to compare them to the patients who received darbepoetin.

Inclusion criteria

• Are men and women between the ages of 18 - 100 years old (inclusive)
• Require descending thoracic or thoracoabdominal aorta surgical repair
• Can provide informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Have a traumatic aortic dissection
• Have a baseline NIHSS > 1 or modified Rankin Scale > 1
• Have a history of stroke or myocardial infarction within the past 30 days
• Have a preoperative hemoglobin < 9 or > 14
• Have a history of polycythemia vera or essential thrombocytosis
• Have a history of hematologic malignancy
• Have a history of arterial or venous thrombosis in the past three months
• Have uncontrolled hypertension
• Have active malignancy requiring treatment
• Are receiving hemodialysis
• Are currently using recombinant human erythropoietin or darbepoetin alfa, or have an expectation to require these medications within 30 days of surgery.
• Have a known allergy to recombinant human erythropoietin or darbepoetin alfa
• Are pregnant or breast-feeding. Women of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test (urine pregnancy test or serum beta-HCG)