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The Intravascular Cooling in the Treatment of Stroke 2/3 Trial

Phase 2/3 Study of Intravenous Thrombolysis and Hypothermia for Acute Treatment of Ischemic Stroke

Status
Terminated
Phases
Phase 2Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01123161
Acronym
ICTuS2/3
Enrollment
120
Registered
2010-05-14
Start date
2010-06-30
Completion date
2015-05-31
Last updated
2017-04-05

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

Conditions

Stroke, Acute

Keywords

Hypothermia, Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action, Cerebral Infarction, Hematologic Agents, Stroke, Nervous System Diseases, Vascular Diseases, Tissue Plasminogen Activator, Central Nervous System Diseases, Fibrinolytic Agents, Cardiovascular Agents, Body Temperature Changes, Brain Diseases, Cerebrovascular Disorders, Pharmacologic Actions, Signs and Symptoms, Fibrin Modulating Agents, Therapeutic Uses, Brain Ischemia, Cardiovascular Diseases, Brain Infarction, Plasminogen, cooling, tPA, thrombolysis

Brief summary

The purpose of this trial is to determine whether the combination of thrombolysis and hypothermia is superior to thrombolysis alone for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke.

Detailed description

A stroke is usually caused by a blockage in one of the arteries that carries blood to the brain. Research has shown that tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)-a naturally occurring protein that opens blocked arteries by dissolving blood clots - activates the body's ability to dissolve recently formed blood clots and reduces or prevents the brain damage caused by a stroke. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of tPA for people having a stroke when taken within 3 hours of stroke onset. Researchers believe that a lower body temperature (hypothermia) may be beneficial while a stroke is happening because hypothermia may prevent further brain injury, or may make the stroke less damaging. Patients will receive a standard stroke evaluation, which includes blood tests, a computed tomography (CT) scan, complete physical and neurological examinations, and an electrocardiogram (EKG) to determine eligibility for the study. There are two study groups - tPA alone or tPA with cooling (hypothermia). Participants will be randomly assigned to one of the two study groups. Length of participation (including observation after the patient leaves the hospital) is 90 days. This study is part of the Specialized Program of Translational Research in Acute Stroke (SPOTRIAS), which allows researchers to enhance and initiate translational research that ultimately will benefit stroke patients by treating more patients in less than 2 hours, and finding ways to treat additional patients later.

Interventions

DEVICEhypothermia and anti-shivering treatment

Hypothermia is induced using the Celsius Control™ System. Shivering is treated with buspirone, meperidine and surface warming

DRUGGroup1: IV t-PA and normothermia

Group 1 will t-PA as standard of care and normothermia

Sponsors

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
CollaboratorNIH
The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston
CollaboratorOTHER
University of California, San Diego
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
FACTORIAL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Intervention model description

Randomized to normothermia or hypothermia

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
22 Years to 82 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. Age 22 to 82 years old inclusive 2. Patient receiving IV rt-PA using standard guidelines 3. NIHSS score ≥ 7 and ≤ 20 (right hemisphere) or ≥ 7 and ≤ 24 (left hemisphere) at the time of randomization 4. Pre-stroke mRS 0-1 5. Able to begin endovascular phase of hypothermia within 2 hours of tPA completion 6. Written Informed Consent, signed and dated by the patient (or patient's authorized representative)

Exclusion criteria

1. Etiology other than ischemic stroke 2. Item 1a on NIHSS \> 1 at the time of randomization 3. Clinical symptoms consistent with brainstem or cerebellar stroke 4. Classic lacunar syndrome with imaging confirmation of small deep ischemia, but randomization will not be delayed for neuroimaging other than initial scan to exclude hemorrhage 5. Known contraindications to hypothermia, such as known hematologic dyscrasias that affect thrombosis (cryoglobulinemia, Sickle cell disease, serum cold agglutinins), or vasospastic disorders such as Raynaud's or thromboangiitis obliterans 6. Known co-morbid conditions that are likely to complicate therapy in the opinion of the investigator, e.g., i. Heart failure (NYHA class III and IV)\* ii. Uncompensated arrhythmia iii. Severe Liver disease iv. History of pelvic or abdominal mass likely to compress inferior vena cava v. IVC filters vi. HIV positive vii. Clinically active hypo or hyperthyroidism viii. Renal insufficiency likely to impair meperidine clearance ix. Chronic ethanol abuse x. History of HIT (heparin induced thrombocytopenia) 7. Pregnancy (All women of child-bearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test, urine or blood, prior to therapy.) 8. Medical conditions likely to interfere with patient assessment. 9. Known allergy to meperidine or buspirone 10. Currently taking or used within previous 14 days MAO-I class of medication. 11. Life expectancy \< 6 months 12. Not likely to be available for long-term follow-up 13. Use, or planned use, of intra-arterial thrombolysis, mechanical clot removal, or other experimental or approved acute therapy for this stroke event 14. Chest radiograph or clinical presentation suggestive of pneumonia or clinically significant pulmonary edema at baseline. 15. Temperature upon admission greater than or equal to 38°C

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Incidence of Any Intracranial Hemorrhage (ICH) Within 48 Hours of Stroke Onset48 hoursIncidence (number) of any intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) (whether or not symptomatic) within 48 hours of stroke onset will be presented by treatment group and overall.
Incidence of Pneumonia7 days or discharge whichever comes firstNumber subjects diagnosed with pneumonia according to CDC criteria will be presented by treatment group and overall, regardless of seriousness
90 Day Mortality90 daysMortality prior to the 90-day evaluation.
The Primary Outcome is the Proportion of Patients Achieving a Favorable Outcome Defined as Modified Rankin Scale Score of 0 or 1, Assessed 90 Days After Treatment.90 daysModified Rankin describes disability: 0 is free of any disability or symptoms, 6 is death, and higher grades between 0 and 6 reflect progressively greater disability
Incidence of Any Symptomatic Intracranial Hemorrhage (sICH) Within 48 Hours of Stroke Onset48 hoursIncidence (number) of Symptomatic ICH (sICH) within 48 hours of stroke onset will be presented by treatment group and overall. Patients with neuroworsening (4 or more point increase in NIHSS , or a decline in the NIHSS consciousness item 1A score of more than 1 point, or a motor deterioration lasting more than 8 hours, all not due to iatrogenic cause) and hemorrhage seen on brain images in whom the investigator attributes the clinical change to the hemorrhage.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
NIHSS Scores at 90 Days90 daysThe National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) is used to quantify neurological deficit. The scale ranges from 0 (best) to 42 points (worst). Between scores of 0 to 42, higher values reflect progressively greater deficit.
The Barthel Index Measure of Activities of Daily Living;90 daysThe Barthel index measures independence in activities of daily living from 0 (worst) to 100 (best) in 5 point increments. Higher scores between 0 and 100 reflect progressively greater levels of independence. Scores were dichotomized at 90 so that a score of 95 or 100 was considered a successful treatment.

Countries

Austria, Switzerland, United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Group1: IV t-PA and Normothermia
IV tpa and normothermia Group1: IV t-PA and normothermia: Group 1 will t-PA as standard of care and normothermia
57
Group 2 : IV t-PA and Hypothermia and Anti-shivering Treatment
IV tpa and hypothermia and anti-shivering treatment hypothermia: Hypothermia is induced using the Celsius Control™ System. Shivering is treated with buspirone, meperidine, and surface warming
63
Total120

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000FG001
Overall StudyLost to Follow-up10
Overall StudyWithdrawal by Subject10

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicGroup 2 : IV t-PA and Hypothermia and Anti-shivering TreatmentTotalGroup1: IV t-PA and Normothermia
Age, Continuous65.5 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 10.3
66.4 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 10.7
67.5 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 11.1
Baseline NIHSS14.1 points
STANDARD_DEVIATION 4.8
14.3 points
STANDARD_DEVIATION 4.8
14.5 points
STANDARD_DEVIATION 4.9
Baseline temperature36.6 degrees (C)
STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.46
36.5 degrees (C)
STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.48
36.4 degrees (C)
STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.5
Sex: Female, Male
Female
29 Participants51 Participants22 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
34 Participants69 Participants35 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
— / —— / —
other
Total, other adverse events
53 / 5763 / 63
serious
Total, serious adverse events
20 / 5726 / 63

Outcome results

Primary

90 Day Mortality

Mortality prior to the 90-day evaluation.

Time frame: 90 days

Population: ITT population

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Group1: IV t-PA and Normothermia90 Day Mortality5 participants
Group 2 : IV t-PA and Hypothermia90 Day Mortality10 participants
Primary

Incidence of Any Intracranial Hemorrhage (ICH) Within 48 Hours of Stroke Onset

Incidence (number) of any intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) (whether or not symptomatic) within 48 hours of stroke onset will be presented by treatment group and overall.

Time frame: 48 hours

Population: Intention to treat patients with imaging obtained 36 to 48 hours after treatment

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Group1: IV t-PA and NormothermiaIncidence of Any Intracranial Hemorrhage (ICH) Within 48 Hours of Stroke Onset13 participants
Group 2 : IV t-PA and HypothermiaIncidence of Any Intracranial Hemorrhage (ICH) Within 48 Hours of Stroke Onset9 participants
Primary

Incidence of Any Symptomatic Intracranial Hemorrhage (sICH) Within 48 Hours of Stroke Onset

Incidence (number) of Symptomatic ICH (sICH) within 48 hours of stroke onset will be presented by treatment group and overall. Patients with neuroworsening (4 or more point increase in NIHSS , or a decline in the NIHSS consciousness item 1A score of more than 1 point, or a motor deterioration lasting more than 8 hours, all not due to iatrogenic cause) and hemorrhage seen on brain images in whom the investigator attributes the clinical change to the hemorrhage.

Time frame: 48 hours

Population: ITT patients in whom a brain image was obtained 36 yo 48 hours after treatment

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Group1: IV t-PA and NormothermiaIncidence of Any Symptomatic Intracranial Hemorrhage (sICH) Within 48 Hours of Stroke Onset2 participants
Group 2 : IV t-PA and HypothermiaIncidence of Any Symptomatic Intracranial Hemorrhage (sICH) Within 48 Hours of Stroke Onset1 participants
Primary

Incidence of Pneumonia

Number subjects diagnosed with pneumonia according to CDC criteria will be presented by treatment group and overall, regardless of seriousness

Time frame: 7 days or discharge whichever comes first

Population: ITT population

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Group1: IV t-PA and NormothermiaIncidence of Pneumonia6 participants
Group 2 : IV t-PA and HypothermiaIncidence of Pneumonia12 participants
Primary

The Primary Outcome is the Proportion of Patients Achieving a Favorable Outcome Defined as Modified Rankin Scale Score of 0 or 1, Assessed 90 Days After Treatment.

Modified Rankin describes disability: 0 is free of any disability or symptoms, 6 is death, and higher grades between 0 and 6 reflect progressively greater disability

Time frame: 90 days

Population: Intention to Treat Population

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Group1: IV t-PA and NormothermiaThe Primary Outcome is the Proportion of Patients Achieving a Favorable Outcome Defined as Modified Rankin Scale Score of 0 or 1, Assessed 90 Days After Treatment.21 participants
Group 2 : IV t-PA and HypothermiaThe Primary Outcome is the Proportion of Patients Achieving a Favorable Outcome Defined as Modified Rankin Scale Score of 0 or 1, Assessed 90 Days After Treatment.21 participants
Secondary

NIHSS Scores at 90 Days

The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) is used to quantify neurological deficit. The scale ranges from 0 (best) to 42 points (worst). Between scores of 0 to 42, higher values reflect progressively greater deficit.

Time frame: 90 days

Population: Intention to treat patients with an available 90-day NIHSS values therefore the total numbers available are fewer than the total ITT population.

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Group1: IV t-PA and NormothermiaNIHSS Scores at 90 Days6.1 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 6.6
Group 2 : IV t-PA and HypothermiaNIHSS Scores at 90 Days4.8 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 5.4
Secondary

The Barthel Index Measure of Activities of Daily Living;

The Barthel index measures independence in activities of daily living from 0 (worst) to 100 (best) in 5 point increments. Higher scores between 0 and 100 reflect progressively greater levels of independence. Scores were dichotomized at 90 so that a score of 95 or 100 was considered a successful treatment.

Time frame: 90 days

Population: The intention to treat population with a 90-day Barthel index available was used, therefore the numbers are fewer than in the total population.

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Group1: IV t-PA and NormothermiaThe Barthel Index Measure of Activities of Daily Living;25 participants
Group 2 : IV t-PA and HypothermiaThe Barthel Index Measure of Activities of Daily Living;24 participants

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 28, 2026