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Systemic Hypothermia Improves Outcome of Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy

Effect of Systemic Hypothermia on Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 1Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT00817401
Enrollment
100
Registered
2009-01-06
Start date
2002-07-31
Completion date
2008-06-30
Last updated
2009-01-06

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy

Keywords

asphyxia, hypothermia, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, neonates

Brief summary

Perinatal asphyxia-induced brain injury is one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality in term and preterm neonates. Birth asphyxia accounts for 23% of neonatal deaths globally and survivors suffer from long term neurological disability and impairment. Although many neuroprotective strategies appeared promising in animal models, most of them were not feasible and effective in human newborns. However, hypothermia was reported not to be effective if introduced beyond and thus should be introduced within 6 hrs after birth.Applying this selection criterion naturally would deprive many patients of the opportunity of hypothermia treatment.

Detailed description

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy of the newborn infant remains a significant socio-economic health problem worldwide. Moderate to severe HIE of newborn infants is associated with a high rate of death or long-term disabilities. Historically, treatment has been purely supportive including stabilizing cardio-respiratory functions and treating convulsions. Recent multi-center trials assessing the effects of hypothermia demonstrated improved outcome in term neonates with moderate hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). However, hypothermia was not effective beyond 6 hrs after brain injury. The aim of this study was to investigate whether systemic hypothermia induced up to 10 hrs after birth would improve the neurodevelopmental outcome at 18 months in infants with moderate or severe HIE.

Interventions

DEVICEhypothermia

For the systemic hypothermia treatment (TS Med 200, Germany), the infants were nursed under an open unit, covered only by a diaper and a thin linen, loosing heat to the environment and to a cooling mat¬tress which was perfused by circulating liquid at a variable temperature. The rectal temperature was targeted at 33.5 °C (range of 33 to 34 °C) and was meant to be achieved within 60 min. The body temperature was checked every 10 min during induction hypothermia and every hour during the remaining period of cooling. The duration of hypothermia was 72 hrs. Rewarming was started by stopping the cooling system. The infant was meant to reach a 36.5°C rectal temperature in 6 hrs after stopping cooling to prevent rebound hyperthermia.

Sponsors

Medical University Innsbruck
CollaboratorOTHER
Zhengzhou University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
1 Hours to 10 Hours
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. Gestation age ≥37 weeks and body weight \>2500g. 2. with one of the following factors: 1. Apgar score\<5 at 5min; 2. Assisted respiration \>3min due to respiratory distress; 3. pH≤7.1 of cord or arterial blood within 60min after birth; 4. clinical manifestation of encephalopathy during the first 10 hrs of life.

Exclusion criteria

1. Major congenital abnormalities; 2. Head trauma or skull fracture causing major intracranial hemorrhage; 3. Mild HIE; 4. Financial problems of the parents; 5. Lack of permanent address; 6. Postnatal age \> 10 hrs

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frame
Mortality and disability rate.18 months

Countries

China

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026