Stroke
Conditions
Keywords
transcranial doppler, sonothrombolysis, ultrasound, stroke
Brief summary
The purpose of CLOTBUST-HF is to determine the safety of a novel, external Hands-Free transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound system in healthy volunteers and ischemic stroke patients. If found to be safe, the widespread use of operator-independent, ultrasound-enhanced thrombolysis will allow the planning for a large Phase III efficacy trial.
Detailed description
Ultrasound energy to enhance intravenous rt-PA thrombolysis is a promising novel treatment modality for ischemic stroke. Despite encouraging safety data utilizing diagnostic frequencies of transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound, lack of widespread availability of trained personnel has limited its application. \- The primary specific aim for this pilot phase I/II study is to assess the safety of a novel, external Hands-Free TCD ultrasound system. Safety of the new Hands-Free TCD system will first be assessed in healthy volunteers. Safety in these participants will be determined by detailed neurological and dermatological exams and MRI imaging of the brain. Next, safety of the device will be evaluated in two distinct sets of acute ischemic stroke patients: 0-3 hour patients treated with standard IV rt-PA and 3-6 hour non-lytic, image-selected patients treated with sonolysis (with or without intravenous microbubbles). Among the healthy volunteers the primary measures of safety will be to have no detectable changes in a detailed neurological exam nor any blood- brain barrier (BBB) disruption or changes in permeability. Among both the 0-3 hour and 3-6 hour groups the primary measure of safety will be to not tolerate greater than a 10% rate of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) within 24 hours. \* The primary hypothesis is that replacing conventional TCD ultrasound hand-held TCD technology with a Hands-Free system will be safe in healthy volunteers as well as acute ischemic stroke patients. If the device is found to be safe in either the 0-3 hour or 3-6 hour groups, \- the secondary aims for this study will explore the rates of arterial recanalization in the 0-3 hour and/or 3-6 hour groups, favorable outcomes, and clinical recovery. The secondary aims will assess the hypothesis is that Hands-Free TCD will display similar recanalization and early clinical recovery rates compared to available historical diagnostic TCD ultrasound controls exposed to conventional FDA-approved TCD technology. Data generated during this phase I/II trial will evaluate the safety of replacing an operator-dependent TCD device with an operator-independent unit. In turn, this will allow extensive availability of therapeutic ultrasound and improve enrollment into ultrasound-enhanced thrombolysis stroke trials.
Interventions
DEVICE2-MHz transcranial Doppler ultrasound
2-hours of hands-free ultrasound will be insonated continuously. A brain MRI with gadolinium will be performed before and after the ultrasound.
DEVICE2-MHz transcranial Doppler ultrasound insonation
2-hours of hands-free ultrasound delivered to in the intracranial vessels.
Sponsors
University of Alabama at Birmingham
The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston
Study design
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Phase I Safety (healthy volunteers): * Presence of temporal windows as measured first by an FDA-approved diagnostic TCD device. * Age ≥ 18 years old. * Signed informed consent. Phase II (0-3 hours ischemic stroke patients): * Disabling focal neurological deficit (NIHSS \> 4 points); * No evidence of hemorrhage on non-contrast head CT scan; * Intravenous rt-PA (0.9 mg/kg, 10% bolus 90% infusion over 1 hour, maximum dose 90 mg) infusion initiated within 3 hours of symptom onset; * Diagnostic TCD completed and HF-TCD placed before rt-PA bolus. * Diagnostic TCD confirms intracranial arterial occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA), anterior cerebral artery (ACA), internal carotid artery (ICA), posterior cerebral artery (PCA) or distal basilar artery. * Age ≥ 18 years old. * Signed informed consent. Phase II (3-6 hours ischemic stroke patients): * Measurable focal neurological deficit (NIHSS \> 4 points); * No evidence of hemorrhage on non-contrast head CT scan; * Diagnostic TCD confirms intracranial arterial occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA), anterior cerebral artery (ACA), internal carotid artery (ICA), posterior cerebral artery (PCA) or distal basilar artery. * Presence of neuroimaging defined mismatch (CT or MRI prior to enrollment) 1. CT-perfusion * ≥ 20% difference between affected territories on Time to Peak (TTP) and Cerebral Blood Volume (CBV) maps. 2. MRI Diffusion-Perfusion mismatch * ≥ 20% difference between diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) lesion and territory of perfusion delay perfusion weighted imaging (PWI). * Age ≥ 18 years old. * Signed informed consent.
Exclusion criteria
Phase I Safety (healthy volunteers): * History of any neurological disease affecting the central nervous system; * Lack of temporal windows. * History of renal disease or glomerular filtration rate (GFR) \< 60. * Contraindication to MRI (e.g., pacemaker, spinal cord stimulator, severe claustrophobia) Phase II (0-3 hours ischemic stroke patients): * Absent temporal windows in patients with anterior circulation ischemia; * Intra-arterial thrombolysis; * Patient refusal to give informed consent to participate in the CLOTBUST-HF trial; * Contraindications for intravenous rt-PA (NINDS rt-PA Stroke Study Protocol)2. * Phase II (3-6 hours ischemic stroke patients): * Absent temporal windows in patients with anterior circulation ischemia; * Intra-arterial thrombolysis; * Patient refusal to give informed consent to participate in the CLOTBUST-HF trial; * History of allergic response to Definity® microspheres or microbubbles currently being tested (MRX-801); * Baseline imaging consistent with a malignant ischemic pattern (low CBV values or DWI territory \>100cc of tissue); * Baseline MRI imaging demonstrating delayed perfusion of \> 8 seconds in \>100cc of brain parenchyma26; * Patients receiving other investigational drugs, procedures, or therapies within 30 days prior to study treatment; * Significant concurrent medical/neurological conditions or deviation from normal laboratory test values at baseline that, in the opinion of the investigator, pose significant risk to the patient and warrant exclusion from the study; * Known severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (baseline oxygen saturation \< 80% on room air); * Known right-to-left cardiac shunt.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Participants in Phase I Group With Blood-brain-barrier Disruption (BBB) as Measured by MRI of the Brain | 2-3 hours after treatment | Phase I : Imaging of the brain via MRI scans was performed to determine if the Hands-Free transcranial Doppler (TCD) system results in any BBB-disruption or deterioration in permeability. |
| Safety in Phase II Group as Measured by Incidence of Symptomatic Intracerebral Hemorrhage | within 24 hours | Phase II: Determine if the Hands-Free TCD will not result in higher than 10% rate of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) within 24 hours (defined as clinical worsening \> 4 NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) points and presence of hemorrhage on CT scan that in the opinion of the treating physician is causatively related to ICH on CT) in 0-3 hours acute stroke patients treated with intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator (IV-t-PA). |
| Number of Participants in Phase I Group With Neurological Deterioration as Measured by Neurological Examination | 2-3 hours after treatment | The neurological examinations comprised assessments of mental status and orientation, cranial nerve examination, muscle strength and tone, deep tendon reflexes, sensory testing, coordination, and gait. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Participants in Phase I Group With Adverse Events During and After Study Treatment With HF TCD | 2-3 hours after treatment | Phase I - A group of healthy volunteers will be assessed to determine the feasibility and activity of hands-free (HF) transcranial Doppler (TCD). Adverse events include subject complaints regarding discomfort of the device and dermatological adverse events as evidenced by a detailed physical examination of skin integrity post-insonation. |
| Percentage of Participants in Phase II Group With Excellent Outcome as Measured by Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) | at 3-months from enrollment | A modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0 or 1 indicates an excellent outcome. The mRS is a commonly used scale for measuring the degree of disability or dependence in the daily activities of people who have suffered a stroke or other causes of neurological disability. The mRS scale ranks patients from 0 to 6 (0 is the best score, 6 is the worst score). |
| Percentage of Participants in the Phase II Group That Show Arterial Recanalization as Measured Using Standard Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound Systems | 2-3 hours after treatment | Ischemic stroke patients: 2-hour rates of arterial complete and partial recanalization as measured using standard Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound systems. |
| Percentage of Participants in Phase II Group With Neurological Worsening as Determined by the NIH Stroke Scale | within 90 days of enrollment | The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, or NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) is a tool used by healthcare providers to objectively quantify the impairment caused by a stroke. Each item on the NIHSS scores a specific ability between a 0 and 4. For each item, a score of 0 typically indicates normal function in that specific ability, while a higher score is indicative of some level of impairment. The individual scores from each item are summed in order to calculate a patient's total NIHSS score. The maximum possible score is 42, with the minimum score being a 0. |
Countries
United States
Participant flow
Participants by arm
| Arm | Count |
|---|---|
| Phase I Non-stroke volunteers. | 15 |
| Phase II Phase II-20 patients with ischemic stroke treated with IV-tPA | 20 |
| Total | 35 |
Withdrawals & dropouts
| Period | Reason | FG000 | FG001 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Study | MRI contraindication | 1 | 0 |
| Overall Study | Withdrawal by Subject | 2 | 0 |
Baseline characteristics
| Characteristic | Phase II | Phase I | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age, Categorical <=18 years | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Age, Categorical >=65 years | 8 Participants | 2 Participants | 10 Participants |
| Age, Categorical Between 18 and 65 years | 12 Participants | 13 Participants | 25 Participants |
| Age, Continuous | 63 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 14 | 49 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 16 | 57 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 17 |
| Region of Enrollment United States | 20 participants | 15 participants | 35 participants |
| Sex: Female, Male Female | 8 Participants | 9 Participants | 17 Participants |
| Sex: Female, Male Male | 12 Participants | 6 Participants | 18 Participants |
Adverse events
| Event type | EG000 affected / at risk | EG001 affected / at risk |
|---|---|---|
| deaths Total, all-cause mortality | — / — | — / — |
| other Total, other adverse events | 0 / 15 | 19 / 20 |
| serious Total, serious adverse events | 0 / 15 | 9 / 20 |
Outcome results
Primary
Number of Participants in Phase I Group With Blood-brain-barrier Disruption (BBB) as Measured by MRI of the Brain
Phase I : Imaging of the brain via MRI scans was performed to determine if the Hands-Free transcranial Doppler (TCD) system results in any BBB-disruption or deterioration in permeability.
Time frame: 2-3 hours after treatment
| Arm | Measure | Value (NUMBER) |
|---|---|---|
| Phase I | Number of Participants in Phase I Group With Blood-brain-barrier Disruption (BBB) as Measured by MRI of the Brain | 0 participants |
Primary
Number of Participants in Phase I Group With Neurological Deterioration as Measured by Neurological Examination
The neurological examinations comprised assessments of mental status and orientation, cranial nerve examination, muscle strength and tone, deep tendon reflexes, sensory testing, coordination, and gait.
Time frame: 2-3 hours after treatment
| Arm | Measure | Value (NUMBER) |
|---|---|---|
| Phase I | Number of Participants in Phase I Group With Neurological Deterioration as Measured by Neurological Examination | 0 participants |
Primary
Safety in Phase II Group as Measured by Incidence of Symptomatic Intracerebral Hemorrhage
Phase II: Determine if the Hands-Free TCD will not result in higher than 10% rate of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) within 24 hours (defined as clinical worsening \> 4 NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) points and presence of hemorrhage on CT scan that in the opinion of the treating physician is causatively related to ICH on CT) in 0-3 hours acute stroke patients treated with intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator (IV-t-PA).
Time frame: within 24 hours
Population: Intention to Treat (ITT)
| Arm | Measure | Value (NUMBER) |
|---|---|---|
| Phase I | Safety in Phase II Group as Measured by Incidence of Symptomatic Intracerebral Hemorrhage | 0 percentage of patients |
Secondary
Number of Participants in Phase I Group With Adverse Events During and After Study Treatment With HF TCD
Phase I - A group of healthy volunteers will be assessed to determine the feasibility and activity of hands-free (HF) transcranial Doppler (TCD). Adverse events include subject complaints regarding discomfort of the device and dermatological adverse events as evidenced by a detailed physical examination of skin integrity post-insonation.
Time frame: 2-3 hours after treatment
Population: ITT
| Arm | Measure | Value (NUMBER) |
|---|---|---|
| Phase I | Number of Participants in Phase I Group With Adverse Events During and After Study Treatment With HF TCD | 0 participants |
Secondary
Percentage of Participants in Phase II Group With Excellent Outcome as Measured by Modified Rankin Scale (mRS)
A modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0 or 1 indicates an excellent outcome. The mRS is a commonly used scale for measuring the degree of disability or dependence in the daily activities of people who have suffered a stroke or other causes of neurological disability. The mRS scale ranks patients from 0 to 6 (0 is the best score, 6 is the worst score).
Time frame: at 3-months from enrollment
Population: ITT with modified Ranking scores (mSR) at 90 days. % displayed is % with excellent outcome (mRS of 0-1).
| Arm | Measure | Value (NUMBER) |
|---|---|---|
| Phase I | Percentage of Participants in Phase II Group With Excellent Outcome as Measured by Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) | 25 percentage of patients |
Secondary
Percentage of Participants in Phase II Group With Neurological Worsening as Determined by the NIH Stroke Scale
The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, or NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) is a tool used by healthcare providers to objectively quantify the impairment caused by a stroke. Each item on the NIHSS scores a specific ability between a 0 and 4. For each item, a score of 0 typically indicates normal function in that specific ability, while a higher score is indicative of some level of impairment. The individual scores from each item are summed in order to calculate a patient's total NIHSS score. The maximum possible score is 42, with the minimum score being a 0.
Time frame: within 90 days of enrollment
| Arm | Measure | Value (NUMBER) |
|---|---|---|
| Phase I | Percentage of Participants in Phase II Group With Neurological Worsening as Determined by the NIH Stroke Scale | 5 percentage of patients |
Secondary
Percentage of Participants in the Phase II Group That Show Arterial Recanalization as Measured Using Standard Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound Systems
Ischemic stroke patients: 2-hour rates of arterial complete and partial recanalization as measured using standard Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound systems.
Time frame: 2-3 hours after treatment
Population: ITT - Percent of patients who had complete recanalization after treatment.
| Arm | Measure | Value (NUMBER) |
|---|---|---|
| Phase I | Percentage of Participants in the Phase II Group That Show Arterial Recanalization as Measured Using Standard Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound Systems | 40 percentage of patients |