Corticosteroid Therapy in Neonates Undergoing Cardiopulmonary Bypass
Phase: NA
Conditions: Congenital Heart Disease, Disorder of Fetus or Newborn
Sponsor: Medical University of South Carolina

Corticosteroid Therapy in Neonates Undergoing Cardiopulmonary Bypass 
 (Steroids in Neonatal Cardiac Surgery) 
Version 7.0 / Date: 09/15/2014 Grant# R01 HL112968 
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR 
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR  
 ERIC GRAHAM, MD 
Associate Professor 
MUSC 
165 Ashley Avenue 
MSC 915 
Charleston, SC 29425 
Phone:843-792-9570 
Fax:     843-792-1978 
E-mail:grahamem@musc.edu 
 
 
 
BIOSTATISTICIAN 
BIOSTATISTICIAN 
RENEE’ HEBERT MARTIN 
Assistant Professor 
MUSC 
135 Cannon St. 
Suite 303 
Charleston, SC 29425 
Phone:843-876-1913 
Fax:    843-876-1923 
E-mail:hebertrl@musc.edu 
 
 
 
NHLBI PROGRAM OFFICER 
ELLEN ROSENBERG 
NHLBI 
301-594-1376 
rosenbeel@nhlbi.nih.gov 
 

Protocol Synopsis 
Title 
Corticosteroid Therapy in Neonates Undergoing Cardiopulmonary 
Bypass 
 
Short Title 
Steroids in Neonatal Cardiac Surgery 
Clinical Phase 
Phase IV 
IND Number 
 Exempt 
Rational for Study 
Population 
The study will focus on neonates for a few reasons. Although their 
post- cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) clinical course is typically 
more severe and ICU care more prolonged than older children, their 
modes of morbidity are also well characterized. Further, the high 
level of severity itself provides a substrate for identifying the 
positive effects of a particular therapy. Finally, a therapy identified 
as beneficial has the greatest potential for benefit in this vulnerable 
population. 
Primary Aim 
 
Compare the effects of intraoperative methylprednisolone (MP) to 
placebo on morbidity and mortality following neonatal 
cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).  
Hypothesis 
Neonates receiving MP will have an improved perioperative clinical 
course as assessed by a decrease in morbidity and mortality and 
evidence of capillary leak. 
Study Design 
Multi-center, prospective, randomized, double blind, placebo-
controlled study of intraoperative MP in neonates undergoing 
cardiac bypass (CPB).  
 
Randomization into one of the 2 study groups in the ratio of 1:1.  
The randomization will be stratified by corrective vs. palliative 
surgery and by surgeon.  
Primary Endpoint 
Incidence of a clinically derived composite morbidity-mortality 
outcome 
 
Secondary Endpoint 
- 
Inotropic score over the first 36 hours after surgery 
- 
Incidence of low cardiac output syndrome over 36 hours 
- 
Urine output over 36 hours 
- 
Total intake/output of fluid over 36 hours 
- 
Duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU and hospital length of 
stay 
- 
Days alive & out of hospital at 90 days 
- 
Bayley Scale of Infant Development at 1 year 
- 
Inflammatory markers 

- 
Adverse Events 
 
Accrual Objective 
Two sites; 190 patients (95 patients per treatment arm)  
- 
MUSC - 35 subjects per year   
- 
Atlanta - 50 subjects  per year   
Study Duration 
5 year study 
Treatment Description  
Methylprednisolone (MP) at a dose of 30 mg/kg body weight will be 
administered intravenously with the induction of anesthesia 
Inclusion Criteria 
- Age  < 1 month (≤ 31 days of life) 
- Male and female patients who are scheduled to undergo cardiac 
surgery involving CPB  
- Parent or legal guardian consent 
Exclusion Criteria 
- Prematurity:  < 37 weeks post gestational age at time of surgery 
- Treatment with intravenous steroids within the two days prior to 
scheduled surgery. 
- Participation in research studies involving the evaluation of 
investigational drugs or vaccines within 30 days of 
randomization. 
- Suspected infection that would contraindicate steroid use (e.g. – 
Herpes) 
- Known hypersensitivity to MP or one of its components or other 
contraindication to steroid therapy (e.g. - gastrointestinal 
bleeding). 
- Preoperative use of mechanical circulatory support or active 
resuscitation at the time of proposed randomization. 
- Inability to comply with study procedures 
 

Table of Contents 
Glossary of Abbreviations ............................................................................................................................ 6 
1 
BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE .............................................................................................. 7 
1.1 
Background ............................................................................................................................ 7 
1.1.1 
Glucocorticoid Prophylaxis for Post-CPB Inflammation .................................................................. 8 
1.1.2 
Methylprednisolone .......................................................................................................................... 8 
1.1.3 
Surrogate Measures of Low Cardiac Output ..................................................................................... 9 
1.2 
Hypothesis/Research Question ............................................................................................. 10 
1.3 
Preclinical and Clinical Experience ..................................................................................... 10 
1.3.1 
Clinical Experience ......................................................................................................................... 10 
1.3.1.1 
Inflammation after CPB ................................................................................................................ 12 
1.3.1.2 
Cytokine Activation and Neonatal Post-CPB Inflammation ........................................................ 13 
1.3.1.3 
The cytokine response of neonates in general is known to b qualitatively and quantitatively 
distinctive in comparison to older infants. ..................................................................................................... 13 
1.3.1.4 
Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) and Neonatal Post-CPB Inflammation .............................. 14 
1.3.2 
Microribonucleic acid ..................................................................................................................... 15 
1.3.3 
Assessment of Inflammatory Markers ............................................................................................ 15 
1.4 
Rationale (for study population) .......................................................................................... 15 
1.5 
Known and Potential Risks and Benefits ............................................................................. 16 
1.5.1 
Risk of Study Procedures ................................................................................................................ 16 
1.5.2 
Benefits ........................................................................................................................................... 17 
2 
AIMS ................................................................................................................................................ 18 
2.1 
Primary Aim ......................................................................................................................... 18 
2.2 
Secondary Aims ................................................................................................................... 18 
3 
SELECTION OF PARTICIPANTS ................................................................................................. 19 
3.1 
Inclusion Criteria .................................................................................................................. 19 
3.2 
Exclusion Criteria ................................................................................................................ 19 
4 
STUDY DESIGN ............................................................................................................................. 20 
4.1 
Study Endpoints ................................................................................................................... 20 
4.1.1 
Primary Endpoint ............................................................................................................................ 20 
4.1.2 
Secondary Endpoint ........................................................................................................................ 20 
5 
STUDY TREATMENT REGIMEN ................................................................................................ 21 
5.1 
Premature Study Discontinuation ........................................................................................ 21 
5.1.1 
Premature Discontinuation of Study Treatment .............................................................................. 21 
6 
CRITERIA FOR PREMATURE TERMINATION OF THE STUDY ........................................... 22 
6.1 
Participant Withdrawal Criteria ..................................................................................... 22 
7 
STUDY PROCEDURES ................................................................................................................. 23 
7.1 
Enrollment and Screening Procedures............................................................ 23 
7.1.1 
Screening......................................................................................................................................... 23 
7.1.2 
Enrollment....................................................................................................................................... 23 
7.1.3 
Randomization ................................................................................................................................ 23 
7.1.4 
Intraoperative Management ............................................................................................................ 24 
7.1.5 
Postoperative Management ............................................................................................................. 24 
7.1.6 
Samples Collected ........................................................................................................................... 24 
8 
STUDY DRUG PREPARATION AND ADMINISTRATION ...................................................... 25 
9 
STUDY WINDOWS ........................................................................................................................ 26 
10 
SAFETY MONITORING ................................................................................................................ 27 
10.1 
Definitions ............................................................................................................................ 27 
10.1.1 
Adverse Event ................................................................................................................................. 27 
10.1.2 
Serious Adverse Event .................................................................................................................... 27 
10.1.3 
Study Deviation .............................................................................................................................. 28 
10.2 
Collection and Reporting of Events ..................................................................................... 28 
10.2.1 
Collection Procedure ....................................................................................................................... 28 

10.2.2 
Recording Procedure ....................................................................................................................... 28 
10.2.3 
SAE Grading and Attribution.......................................................................................................... 28 
10.2.4 
Reporting Procedure and Timeline ................................................................................................. 29 
10.2.5 
Data Safety Monitoring Plan ........................................................................................................... 29 
10.2.6 
Institutional Review Board Notification ......................................................................................... 30 
11 
RANDOMIZATION, BLINDING, UNBLINDING ....................................................................... 31 
11.1 
Randomization ..................................................................................................................... 31 
11.1.1 
Randomization Code Development ................................................................................................ 31 
11.1.2 
Randomization Code Management ................................................................................................. 31 
11.2 
Blinding ................................................................................................................................ 31 
11.3 
Unblinding ........................................................................................................................... 32 
12 
STATISTICAL CONSIDERATIONS/ANALYTICAL PLAN ....................................................... 33 
12.1 
Sample Size and Power Calculation For Primary Endpoint................................................. 33 
12.2 
Sample Size and Power Calculation for Secondary Endpoints ............................................ 33 
12.3 
Subgroup Analyses .............................................................................................................. 33 
12.4 
Statistical Methods ............................................................................................................... 34 
12.5 
Study Endpoint Assessment ................................................................................................. 34 
12.5.1 
Primary Endpoint ............................................................................................................................ 34 
12.5.2 
Secondary Endpoints....................................................................................................................... 35 
12.6 
Study Data Collection .......................................................................................................... 37 
12.6.1 
Table 2: Schedule of Measurements ............................................................................................... 37 
12.6.2 
Medical and Surgical History.......................................................................................................... 39 
12.6.3 
Study Completion ........................................................................................................................... 39 
12.7 
Sample Size and Power Calculation For Primary Endpoint................................................. 39 
12.8 
Sample Size and Power Calculation for Secondary Endpoints ............................................ 39 
12.9 
Subgroup Analyses .............................................................................................................. 40 
12.10 
Statistical Methods ............................................................................................................... 40 
12.11 
Reporting Deviations from Original Statistical Plan ............................................................ 41 
13 
SOURCE DATA .............................................................................................................................. 42 
13.1 
Identifying Source Data ....................................................................................................... 42 
13.2 
Permitting Access to Source Data ........................................................................................ 42 
14 
QUALITY CONTROL AND QUALITY ASSURANCE ............................................................... 43 
14.1 
Data Monitoring Plan ........................................................................................................... 43 
15 
ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS AND COMPLIANCE WITH GOOD CLINICAL PRACTICE . 44 
15.1 
Statement of Compliance ..................................................................................................... 44 
15.2 
Informed Consent and Assent .............................................................................................. 44 
15.3 
Cost to Participate ................................................................................................................ 44 
15.4 
Privacy and Confidentiality .................................................................................................. 44 
16 
PUBLICATION POLICY ................................................................................................................ 45 
17 
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................. 46 
 
Appendix 1: Targeted /Planned Enrollment Table 
 
53 
Appendix 2: Schedule of Multiplexer Studies Table 
54 
  

Glossary of Abbreviations 
CFR 
Code of Federal Regulations 
CRF 
Case Report Form 
CTCAE 
Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events 
DSMB 
Data Safety Monitoring Board 
FDA 
Food and Drug Administration 
GCP 
Good Clinical Practice 
ICH 
International Conference on Harmonization 
IND 
Investigational New Drug 
IRB 
Institutional Review Board 
NHLBI 
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute 
PI 
Principal Investigator 
SAE 
Serious Adverse Event 
SAP 
Statistical Analysis Plan 
ITT 
Intent to treat 
CPB 
Cardiopulmonary Bypass 
LCOS 
Low cardiac output syndrome 
ICU 
Intensive Care Unit 
MP 
Methylprednisolone 

1 
BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE 
1.1 
Background 
Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) has been characterized as “… a double-edged sword”. Without 
it, cardiac surgery would not be possible in the majority of children with congenital heart 
disease. However, much of the perioperative morbidity that occurs after cardiac surgery can be 
attributed to pathophysiologic processes engendered by extracorporeal circulation” 1. This 
observation is particularly true in the neonatal population, traditionally identified as infants less 
than 30 days of age. Although CPB per se is not an independent risk factor for mortality in 
neonatal heart surgery 2, the morbidity factors of smaller patient size, greater hemodilution, 
hypothermia, and longer CPB times combined with the biological immaturity of myocardial, 
renal, immune, hematological, gut and pulmonary systems create a post-bypass recovery period 
that is longer and more complex than similar operations performed in older infants and children 
3, 4. 
 
In all cases, CPB is a complex pathophysiologic environment in which exposure to non-
physiologic surfaces in the pump circuit, hemolysis, and systemic and myocardial 
ischemia/reperfusion combine to create oxidative stress, reactive oxygen species (ROS) 
formation, peroxynitrite formation, cytokine release, complement cascade activation, matrix 
metalloproteinase (MMP) activation, and neutrophil activation5, 6. The result is a systemic 
inflammatory response (reviewed in 3, 4). In the population of neonates undergoing CPB, the 
pathophysiology is complicated further by issues of size, but also more fundamentally by the 
biological immaturity factors noted above, a high likelihood of exposure to pre-operative 
prostaglandin E1 infusion, and coexistence of pre- and post-operative cyanosis and/or shunts. 
Cyanosis is known to increase the oxidative stress of CPB 7, and multiple studies have 
demonstrated qualitative and quantitative distinctions in cytokine release in children or neonates 
in response to CPB 4, 8-19. 
 
Clinical appreciation of the post-CPB inflammatory response has resulted in a number of 
interventions directed at its reduction. Aprotinin administration, modification of pump circuit 
surfaces by heparin bonding, ultrafiltration strategies, leukocyte trapping filters, reduced oxygen 
exposure, monoclonal antibody administration, and glucocorticoid administration have all been 
described to reduce or eliminate clinical or biochemical features of the post-CPB inflammatory 
response in infants, children, or adults 7, 20, 21, 116.  Recent surveys by Checchia and Allen of 
national and international centers that perform pediatric CPB demonstrated that none of these 
interventions has achieved a level of standard practice in the pediatric or neonatal CPB 
population 21-23. Of those responding to the surveys, glucocorticoid administration was the 
strategy applied by the largest number of centers; however, the timing, dosage and patient 
selection varied dramatically and reinforced the lack of convincing data to guide therapeutic 
administration of anti-inflammatory strategies for congenital heart surgery 21-23. 
 
This application proposes a randomized controlled trial of the use of glucocorticoids to improve 
the clinical course of neonates post-CPB. The study will focus on neonates for a few reasons. 
Although their post-CPB clinical course is typically more severe and ICU care more prolonged 
than older children, their modes of morbidity are also well characterized. Further, the high level 
of severity itself provides a substrate for identifying the positive effects of a particular therapy 24. 

Finally, a therapy identified as beneficial has the greatest potential for benefit in this vulnerable 
population.  A composite morbidity-mortality outcome consisting of six individual clinically 
relevant criteria (death, cardiac arrest, ECMO, renal insufficiency, hepatic insufficiency, and 
lactic acidosis) will be used as the primary endpoint, while a variety of secondary endpoints will 
be related to the biochemical anti-inflammatory effects of therapy, ICU care and late 
neurological outcomes.  
 
1.1.1 
Glucocorticoid Prophylaxis for Post-CPB Inflammation 
The theoretical rationale for the use of glucocorticoids in the setting of CPB is their ability to 
diminish production of inflammatory mediators by transcriptional mechanisms 25, 26. This 
mechanism of action is not therefore directed at the initiating events in the inflammatory 
sequence (ischemia/reperfusion based generation of ROS, activation of 
complement/neutrophils/platelets in the CPB circuit, hemolysis), but on the reduction of the 
responsiveness of the immune system to these stimuli. Perioperative steroids have been 
demonstrated in animals and/or humans to improve oxygen delivery, increase pulmonary 
compliance, lower body temperature, reduce fluid requirements, and decrease the post bypass 
inflammatory response 27-29.  
 
Few controlled trials of glucocorticoids in the setting of CPB in children can be found 22, 27-32. 
Two of these studies involving only 29 patients each suggest some evidence for improvements in 
clinical parameters such as ICU stay and fluid requirement 27, 29. However, other studies 
including a recent meta-analysis failed to demonstrate any benefit in clinical outcomes with 
glucocorticoid administration 32, 33.  The conclusions from all these trials are limited by 
inadequate sample size, inconsistent steroid agent or dose, and timing differences.  It is important 
to note that glucocorticoids have a wide variety of deleterious effects, including diminished 
wound healing and anti-immune actions that make them undesirable in the absence of a clear 
clinical indication. 
 
In the largest pediatric study, Pasquali et al. utilized the Pediatric Health Information Systems 
Database to evaluate the outcomes of corticosteroids in children 0-18 years of age undergoing 
congenital heart operations 34. Data from 46,730 patients were included, 54% of which received 
corticosteroids.  Multivariable analysis found no difference in postoperative mortality between 
corticosteroid recipients and non-recipients.  Corticosteroids were associated with longer length 
of stay, greater infection, and greater use of insulin.  In a sub-analysis of 10,018 neonates, 
corticosteroids were associated with significantly longer postoperative ICU length of stay and 
greater use of insulin.  Although this study has the inherent limitations of any observational study 
utilizing a large database and the authors were unable to evaluate the impact of different dosing 
regimens or exact timing or corticosteroid administration in relation to surgery it highlights the 
importance of confirming these findings in an adequately powered randomized trial prior to any 
firm clinical recommendations.   
 
1.1.2 
Methylprednisolone 
Methylprednisolone (MP) given intravenously is a potent, synthetic glucocorticoid that has 
powerful anti-inflammatory effects.  MP is extremely water-soluble and may be administered in 
a small volume of diluent.  This is particularly advantageous for neonates and small infants 

whose cardiovascular system will not tolerate infusion of large volumes of intravenous fluid.  
The optimal type of steroid and steroid dose for use with CPB remains controversial; however, 
MP was selected at the dose of 30 mg/kg because it is approved for use in children, is the most 
commonly used glucocorticoid in the setting of cardiac surgery and has been used in other small 
pediatric studies without reported important side-effects 5, 21, 29, 35. 
 
1.1.3 
Surrogate Measures of Low Cardiac Output 
The predictable and reproducible fall in cardiac output/index (CO/CI) that occurs after CPB for 
congenital heart surgery, particularly in neonates, infants and young children is well 
documented. In 1975, Parr and associates 36 reported that nearly 25% of young children after 
CPB had a CI of < 2.0 L/min/m2 and concluded that low CI was a strong predictor of acute 
cardiac death. Similarly, in 1995, Wernovsky and colleagues37 found that 25% of neonates had a 
CI of < 2.0 L/min/m2, typically occurring between 6 and 18 hours after surgery. This predictable 
fall in CI was associated with an elevation of systemic vascular resistance of ~ 25% over 
baseline, and a rise in pulmonary vascular resistance of ~ 40% over baseline.  Other recent 
reports have documented similar, predictable falls in CI and elevations in systemic and 
pulmonary vascular resistance following surgery in neonates38, 39. This low CI state has been 
referred to and subjectively defined as low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS) 24.  The cause of 
low cardiac output is multifactorial.  Surgical repair of cardiac malformations with CPB exposes 
the myocardium to prolonged periods of myocardial ischemia40 and cardioplegia41.  Some repairs 
require a ventriculotomy, with resultant myocardial dysfunction. Finally, following surgery, 
there are acute changes in the loading conditions of the myocardium. Infants with cardiac 
malformations account for 80-90% of the pediatric patients who develop low cardiac output42. 
Some cases of low cardiac output after congenital heart surgery are due to residual hemodynamic 
burdens of the underlying defect; however, even when all anatomical defects are repaired there is 
still depressed myocardial performance that is associated with increased mortality36.  While 
mortality from low cardiac output has declined considerably in recent years, it is still 
accompanied by increased morbidity, including: prolonged invasive monitoring, cardiac support, 
ventilatory support and ICU stay, seizures, long-term cognitive dysfunction and multiorgan 
dysfunction 22, 37, 43, 44. 
 
The diagnosis of low cardiac output after cardiac surgery may be problematic. Objective 
measurements of CI may not be possible in patients with residual intracardiac shunts, and 
technical considerations generally limit the use of thermodilution techniques in small neonates 
and infants. Alternative objective assessments include the measurement of mixed venous oxygen 
saturations and serum lactate levels. Parr 36 showed a close correlation between low mixed 
venous oxygen saturations and low CI measured by thermodilution in young patients following 
cardiac surgery.  Recent studies have confirmed that a rising arterial-venous difference in oxygen 
(A-V DO2) is correlated with low CI and an increased likelihood of adverse hemodynamic 
events.  Serum lactate has also been increasingly utilized to predict low cardiac output. Studies 
have shown that a rising lactate predicts mortality or the need for extracorporeal membrane 
oxygenation (ECMO) with 89% sensitivity, 100% specificity, and 100% positive predictive 
value in neonates after CPB 45. 
 
Given the subjectivity of diagnosing low cardiac output and that death occurs rarely in our study 
population a composite morbidity-mortality outcome will be the Primary Endpoint.  The 

morbidity-mortality composite outcome consists of six objective individual criteria.  Subjects 
will meet the outcome if they have one or more of the following after surgery and before hospital 
discharge: death, cardiac arrest, need for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, renal 
insufficiency (creatinine more than two times normal), hepatic insufficiency (aspartate 
aminotransferase or alanine aminotransferase more than two times normal >36 hours post-op), or 
a rising lactic acidosis (>5mmol/L). 117 Similar morbidity-mortality composite outcomes have 
been used in other pediatric cardiac surgery studies107,114,115. 
 
Congenital heart disease is the most common cause of birth defects, with about 40,000 new cases 
born per year in the US. An estimated 10,000 of these patients will undergo cardiac surgery 
involving CPB.  Furthermore, it is estimated that over 300,000 children in the US under age 21 
have congenital cardiovascular disease and that 38% of these children will have had one or more 
surgical procedures (AHA). The use of CPB in neonates in particular has increased steadily over 
the past two decades. Further, neonates are generally sicker and consume more resources, 
including postoperative mechanical ventilation, ICU stay and hospital stay. Consequently, 
reducing the deleterious effects of CPB will have the largest impact in this group of patients. The 
“costs” of low cardiac output and associated morbidity after CPB involve all aspects of the child, 
family, and community.  The prolonged ICU and hospital stays expose the infant to a variety of 
hospital related complications in addition to long term neurodevelopmental delay, while stressing 
the family emotionally and financially.  Based on the frequency of complex congenital heart 
defects, the incidence of the low cardiac output, and the daily costs of ICU care, a reduction in 
postoperative morbidity can be estimated to decrease total healthcare expenditures in the US by 
hundreds of millions of dollars annually. 
 
1.2 
Hypothesis/Research Question 
Neonates receiving MP will have an improved perioperative clinical course as assessed by a 
decrease in morbidity and mortality and evidence of capillary leak. 
1.3 
Preclinical and Clinical Experience 
1.3.1 
Clinical Experience 
Given the rationale of glucocorticoid administration in the setting of CPB is targeted at the 
reduction of the responsiveness of the immune system to the CPB stimuli, the preventive effect 
of glucocorticoids would be presumed to be augmented by administration prior to the 
inflammatory stimulus.  Animal research 46 and small clinical observations 29 support this 
presumption.  However, recent work by Dr. Graham (PI) challenged this canonical belief and 
provides the rationale for this investigation 5.  Neonates scheduled for cardiac surgery were 
randomly assigned to receive either Two Dose (8 hours preoperatively and operatively; n=39) or 
Single Dose (operatively; n=37) methylprednisolone (MP; 30 mg/kg/dose) in a prospective, 
double-blind, controlled trial. The primary outcome was the incidence of low cardiac output 
syndrome or death 36 hours postoperatively.  Secondary outcomes were death at 30 days, 
interlukin-6 levels, inotropic score, fluid balance, serum creatinine, and ICU and hospital stay. 
Preoperative plasma levels of the inflammatory cytokine interlukin-6 were reduced by 2-fold 
(p<0.001) in the Two Dose MP group, consistent with the anti-inflammatory effects of 
preoperative MP administration.  However, the incidence of low cardiac output syndrome was 
46% (17/37) in the Single Dose and 38% (15/39) in the Two Dose MP groups (p=0.51).  Two 

Dose MP was associated with a higher serum creatinine (0.6 ± 0.2 vs. 0.5 ± 0.1 mg/dL, p=0.03), 
and poorer postoperative diuresis (-96±49 mL, p=0.05).  Inotropic requirement, duration of 
mechanical ventilation, ICU, and hospital stay did not differ between the 2 groups.  In this, the 
largest pediatric and only exclusively neonatal randomized trial comparing the efficacy of 
preoperative glucocorticoid therapy to intraoperative glucocorticoid therapy alone for neonates 
undergoing cardiac operations requiring CPB, our data did not provide support for the addition 
of a preoperative dose of MP to a standard intraoperative dose alone.  Although preoperative 
dosing was associated with an improvement in preoperative inflammatory markers, this did not 
correlate with improved clinical outcomes.  To the contrary, preoperative MP dosing was 
associated with a higher immediate postoperative serum creatinine level, and worse diuresis and 
fluid balance over the first 36 hours postoperatively.  In light of these findings, the routine use of 
preoperative glucocorticoids in neonatal cardiac surgery needs to be reconsidered.  
 
However, the conclusions of this study were significantly limited by the lack of a true placebo 
group. Thus recommendations for or against intraoperative MP could not be made.  At the time 
of study design, in light of the presumed beneficial effects demonstrated in both animal and 
small pediatric studies and given the widespread use of MP, we considered it inappropriate to 
randomize neonates to a completely placebo control group.  The widespread use and our decision 
to exclude a completely placebo arm was further confirmed in the recently published trial 
comparing shunt types used in the Norwood surgery 47.  Of the 549 patients undergoing the 
surgery, 498 (91%) received some type of steroid during the surgery (unpublished data 2010, 
Pediatric Heart Network).   The manuscript of this work received favorable reviews from the 
Journal of the American Medical Association but was ultimately rejected given the lack of a 
placebo group. Considered in total, the utility of intraoperative steroids remains in question.  A 
randomized trial comparing intraoperative glucocorticoid to placebo is indicated. 
 
Dr. Graham has investigated the commonly used outcomes of LCOS and vasoactive inotropic 
score with respect to the strength of associations to clinical outcomes following neonatal cardiac 
surgery113. The important findings were that LCOS, as defined in the PRIMACORP study, was 
not associated with early postoperative outcomes in neonatal cardiac surgery. However, 
maximum vasoactive inotropic score was correlated with the duration of mechanical ventilation 
(r=0.36, p=0.001) and ICU stay (r=0.27, p=0.02).  This study questions the problematic and 
subjective definition of LCOS. Given this, the objective composite morbidity-mortality outcome 
will be the Primary Endpoint in this proposal. Similar composite morbidity-mortality outcomes 
have been used in other studies in children following cardiac surgery107,114,115.  When this 
composite outcome was applied to the subjects in Dr. Graham’s initial steroid trial, 33% (25/76) 
of the study population met the composite morbidity-mortality outcome. Subjects that met the 
composite outcome, when compared to those that did not, had significantly longer durations of 
mechanical ventilation, ICU and hospital stays (Table 1,). 117 This provides additional support to 
the clinical relevance of this objective composite outcome and superiority to LCOS as a 
surrogate marker for assessment of low cardiac output in this population. 
 
 
 
 
 

Table 1. Composite Morbidity-Mortality Outcome and other Postoperative Outcomes 
 
Composite Outcome - 
No 
n=51 
Composite Outcome - 
Yes 
n=25 
p-value 
Mechanical ventilation 
(days) 
4.0 ± 3.9 
11.1 ± 13.0 
0.01 
Intensive care unit stay 
(days) 
7.0 ± 4.5 
18.8 ± 25.1 
0.03 
Hospital stay (days) 
16.4 ± 9.0 
34.6 ± 29.8 
0.01 
Hospital charges ($10,000) 
19.5 ± 6.9 
35.2 ± 26.2 
0.01 
Data are reported as mean ± SD.  
 
Given unclear benefits and potential detrimental effects, a randomized trial comparing 
intraoperative glucocorticoids to placebo is mandatory.  Dr. Graham is uniquely qualified to lead 
this study. He was the principal investigator evaluating preoperative and intraoperative MP to 
intraoperative MP alone in neonates undergoing cardiac surgery, which provides the rationale for 
the current proposal 5.  Dr. Graham has proven collaboration with the Departments of Surgery, 
Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine and Biostatistics and Epidemiology to sucessfully 
complete this project.  His work has also placed the Medical University of South Carolina in a 
unique position to perform this proposal.  Despite conflicting data, the use of perioperative 
glucocorticoids remains prevelant 21, 23.  Dr. Graham’s prior work has resulted in an institutional 
equipoise in regard to perioperative glucocorticoid administration, highlighted by the uniform 
support of this proposal by the surgical and ICU physicians.  
 
Our efforts in this application are to specifically study glucocorticoids, but in the larger picture 
we are establishing a platform for a comprehensive understanding of CPB-mediated 
inflammation in the immature or cyanotic myocardium, in order to better suggest and evaluate 
future myocardial protective strategies. As an example, in a closely related project, our group 
(Drs. Graham, Atz and Bradley) have investigated matrix metalloproteonases (MMP) activity 
and cytokine signaling, and possible modification by antioxidant drugs, in older infants with 
tetralogy of Fallot or ventricular septal defects 6. The hypothesis is that preoperative cyanosis 
will result in increased sensitivity to oxidative stress, resulting in higher MMP activity and 
increased pro-inflammatory cytokine levels.  We have found that serial profiling a large array of 
cytokines and proteolytic enzymes after surgery for congenital heart disease can provide insight 
into relationships between changes in bioactive molecules to early postoperative outcomes and 
may hold significance as biomarkers for predicting and managing the postoperative course 5, 6, 48. 
 
1.3.1.1 Inflammation after CPB 
Mann 49 stated that “the inflammatory cascade is hierarchical, intertwined, and redundant”. The 
cascade includes pro-inflammatory cytokines, anti-inflammatory cytokines, MMPs, and products 
of neutrophil activation. If glucocorticoid therapy benefits the neonatal population it is most 
likely to be through modification of the inflammatory cascade. This proposal seeks to compare 
the biochemical profile of the post-CPB state in neonates with respect to a panel of the best 
characterized pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokines as well as the completely uncharacterized 
microribonucleic acid (miRNAs) and matrix metalloproteinase response. 
 

1.3.1.2 Cytokine Activation and Neonatal Post-CPB Inflammation  
CPB results in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion. This in turn causes oxidative stress and the 
formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The immature myocardium seems more vulnerable 
to oxidative stress than adult myocardium, and the degree of pre-existing cyanosis may 
significantly contribute to the ROS mediated myocardial dysfunction 50-52. Oxidative stress 
precedes the release of cytokines during congenital cardiac surgery, indicating that ROS may be 
important initiators of a biological cascade that can culminate in myocardial dysfunction and low 
cardiac output 50, 53, 54. Hemolysis, presumably from the CPB circuit and measured by plasma 
free hemoglobin levels, was recently indicated to be an especially important marker in predicting 
post-CPB clinical course, perhaps through its potent oxidative effects 54. 
 
In general terms, cytokines are produced by multiple cell types, including cardiac myocytes and 
fibroblasts, and bind to receptors on multiple cell types, activating transcription factors such as 
nuclear factor kappaB (NFkB) and  AP-1 55-58 Cytokines released in the context of 
ischemia/reperfusion and oxidative stress include tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) and the 
interleukins (ILs) IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 4, 7, 15-18, 30, 50, 51, 53, 54, 59-71. TNF has been clearly 
demonstrated to be released during cardiac surgery and CPB. Through binding to transmembrane 
receptors, it causes the activation of several transcription factors – notably NFk 57, 58. IL-2, IL-6 
and IL-8 are pro-inflammatory cytokines that mediate the activation and maturation of 
inflammatory cells and thereby the augment release of ROS and proteases beyond that initiated by 
the original ischemia-reperfusion insult 3, 62-64, 72. IL-1 is also pro-inflammatory, potently recruiting 
inflammatory cells and inducing proteases 3, 73, 74. IL-1 forms another potent pathway for NFk 
formation has been reported following congenital heart surgery 60, 61, 75, 76.  However, the overall 
impact of this potent cytokine to downstream effector systems remains to be established. 
Chemokines (eg - MCP-1) augment the egress and maturation of inflammatory cells, such as 
neutrophils, into the myocardium and thereby facilitate cytokine activation 77, 78. In contrast to the 
pro-inflammatory ILs, anti-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-10, appear to inhibit further cytokine 
release from multiple cell types 3, 79.  The balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines is 
believed to determine the degree of inflammatory response.  It is clear that a wide array of 
molecules play a role in the post-CPB response, but equally clear that our understanding of these 
roles can only be derived from further clinical studies. 
 
Modified ultrafiltration (MUF) is commonly employed at the conclusion of CPB in order to 
reduce the impact of hemodilution 17, 60, 71, 72, 75, 76, 80, 81.  MUF has been shown to transiently 
affect cytokine levels, but cytokine activation continues unabated in the early post-operative 
period 81. Moreover, TNF and IL-8 levels appear to be relatively unaffected by MUF, whereas 
IL-10 levels are reduced - potentially contributing to a ‘feed-forward’ cytokine activation process 
in the early post-CPB period 4, 57, 60. 
 
1.3.1.3 The cytokine response of neonates in general is known to b qualitatively 
and quantitatively distinctive in comparison to older infants.  
 
A small number of studies have specifically examined the neonatal cytokine response to 
CPB as distinguished from older infants and pediatric patients 8, 16-18, 71. In general, investigators 
have uniformly noted augmentation of IL-10 levels when measured and variability of IL-6, IL-8, 
and TNF alpha responses. Preoperative glucocorticoid administration in children29  and 

hypothermia on bypass19 augment these profiles, while intraoperative PGE1 administration in 
adults on CPB result in similar cytokine profiles 82. In summary, there is increased IL-10 with 
high variation in reported pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in neonates, and common practices 
in neonatal preoperative or intraoperative care may influence these balances. 
 
1.3.1.4 Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) and Neonatal Post-CPB Inflammation  
MMPs are a family of at least 25 zinc-dependent proteins that were classically associated with 
their ability to degrade collagens or other extracellular matrix macromolecules. These properties 
are important features of MMP function, but intensive investigation has revealed much broader 
roles for these proteins in the myocardium and in other tissues. MMP degradation products of 
collagens and other macromolecules often have significant biological activities, and MMPs also 
mediate the activity of many biologically important growth factors (e.g., IGF family members, 
TGF family members 83, 84). MMPs have become a very active arena of investigation in the 
adult heart. MMPs have been recognized to increase in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of 
pediatric patients, including neonates, with lung disease 85-87. Serum MMP levels have been 
altered in premature infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia or interventricular hemorrhage 85, 
and increased MMP-3 (stromelysin-1) was found in the non-necrotic gut of infants with 
necrotizing enterocolitis 88. Altogether, however, few studies of MMP levels have been 
performed in the neonatal population or the immature heart. 
 
Two reports have found elevation of MMP-2 in the heart after asphyxia-induced cardiac 
ischemia in piglets, with no changes in MMP-9 52, 89. There are currently no clinical data for 
neonates, infants, or older children to predict the nature of the MMP response post CPB. 
However, Cheung et al. studied neonates on ECMO and were able to show that plasma MMP-2 
was elevated in a time-dependent fashion, but not MMP-9 90, and the adult data suggest MMP 
changes are important in the response to a variety of cardiac stresses and injuries. Induction of 
MMPs has been found in patients following myocardial infarction, in ischemia/reperfusion, and 
most importantly in the context of cardiac surgery 77, 78, 91-99. Importantly, a cause-effect relation 
between MMP induction and changes in myocardial structure and function has also been 
demonstrated in the context of ischemia/reperfusion 99-102. However, a quantitative assessment of 
MMP profiles in congenital cardiac surgery and the inter-relationship to postoperative clinical 
status and cytokine activation has not been performed.  
 
The present study will examine a cassette of MMP types corresponding to three important 
soluble MMP classes: the interstitial collagenases (MMP-1,-8,-13), gelatinases (MMP-2,-9) and 
matrilysin/stromelysin (MMP-3,) using a multiplexer approach which has been optimized, 
validated and calibrated for each of these MMP species. As published reports describe an 
apparent cell and stimulus-specific effect of PGE1 on production of MMPs 103, the net effect of 
PGE1 administration as a confounding variable on total circulating MMP levels in neonates pre- 
and post-CPB is difficult to predict. It is likely that the effects on augmentation or suppression of 
individual MMPs in this setting will be tissue specific. Our study will provide the initial clinical 
data for further investigation of this topic. 

 
1.3.2 
Microribonucleic acid 
Microribonucleic acid (miRNAs) are a recently discovered small, non-coding RNAs that regulate 
protein levels post-transcriptionally104.  miRNAs play important regulatory roles in many cellular 
processes, including differentiation, neoplastic transformation, apoptosis and cell replication and 
regeneration.  Given these regulatory roles, it is not surprising that miRNA expression has been 
implicated in numerous disease states.  Recent studies have reported significant levels of 
miRNAs in serum and other body fluids, raising the possibility that circulating miRNAs could 
serve as useful clinical biomarkers.  Even more interesting, given their control over multiple 
effectors of complex intracellular pathways make miRNAs tremendously attractive as 
therapeutic targets, distinguishing them from single protein targets (i.e. enzyme or receptor) of 
most conventional drugs105.  Various biochemical means of stabilizing and delivering miRNAs 
antagonists have already proven successful.  miRNAs role in cardiovascular disease is still 
incompletely understood and under investigation106. 
 
1.3.3 
Assessment of Inflammatory Markers 
Until recently, studying markers for all of these processes has been a practical impossibility in 
neonates due to the volume of blood sampling needed and the specialized nature of the 
measurements. However, recent technical advances included in this application make it realistic 
to match clinical outcomes with the time course of a broad array of serum pro-and anti-
inflammatory cytokines, MMPs, myeloperoxidase and miRNAs. These molecules, known as 
analytes can all be measured from the same small blood sample by a process called multiplexing. 
The multiplex analysis technology in this proposal was developed commercially by Luminex 
Corporation and combines the sensitivity of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays with the 
specificity and multiplexing capability of flow cytometric detection. The equipment described in 
this proposal enables up to hundreds of different analytes to be measured within a single sample 
of less than 50 microliters of plasma. For the purposes of this proposal we will measure the more 
selected panel of MMPs, cytokines and miRNAs detailed in Appendix 2.  
 
1.4 
Rationale (for study population) 
The study will focus on neonates for a few reasons. Although their post- CPB clinical course is 
typically more severe and ICU care more prolonged than older children, their modes of 
morbidity are also well characterized. Further, the high level of severity itself provides a 
substrate for identifying the positive effects of a particular therapy. Finally, a therapy identified 
as beneficial has the greatest potential for benefit in this vulnerable population. 
The primary impediment to performing mechanistically based controlled studies in the area of 
congenital heart surgery is the complexity and diversity of the lesions and ages that confront the 
pediatric cardiologist and surgeon. However, the conditions that require neonatal cardiac surgical 
intervention are all relatively severe, and the responses of neonates to cardiopulmonary bypass 
(CPB) are relatively uniform and well defined. Further, the volume of neonates undergoing CPB 
is quite large, providing adequate sample size to test a focused intervention and set of 
hypotheses. The reductionist approach of this project in regards to the complexity of the 
congenital heart malformations and surgical procedures has been chosen to balance the 
objectives of scientific rigor, acceptable volume and clinically meaningful endpoints.  It is 
recognized that a large number of patients are not being considered in this initial proposal, such 

as infants and older children, where it is also likely that post bypass injury is an important 
problem. However, inclusion of only the neonatal subset of patients will decrease the complexity 
of the study design, allowing for a sharp and mechanistic focus. 
 
1.5 
Known and Potential Risks and Benefits 
1.5.1 
Risk of Study Procedures 
The surgery and post-operative recovery to discharge will follow standard facility SOPs and be 
based upon the decision of the primary physician caring for the neonate.   
 
Risks related to the study include:  
 
- 
Risk of Methylprednisolone administration:  
The possible risks or discomforts of the study are minimal. Intravenous steroids are widely used 
for a myriad of inflammatory conditions including cardiopulmonary bypass. When steroid 
treatments are given for repeated doses, they may cause important disturbances in the stomach or 
intestine (e.g. ulcers), pancreas, salts and sugar in the blood, or the ability to fight infection. 
 
- 
Risk of Infection due to Sampling:   
This risk is quite small. The risks associated with blood collection are minimal since an arterial 
and venous catheter will be in place for routine clinical use. Thus, any risks associated with a 
second venipuncture are eliminated. The volume of blood drawn for these studies has been 
carefully considered to minimize the potential risk of reducing circulatory volumes in the post-
operative period. The risk associated with the intra-operative samples is minimal since volume 
supplementation occurs during this period as a matter of course for the conduct of 
cardiopulmonary bypass. The blood samples at later time points have been carefully considered 
and have been spread over a 30-hour period. It is standard of care to use a urine catheter and the 
risk of acquiring and infection resulting from urine collection is minimal.  
 
- 
Risk of Developmental Testing 
The evaluation performed by the developmental specialist at one year of age does not involve 
any invasive testing.  This portion of the study will take approximately one hour of time.  There 
are no risks associated with this evaluation. 
 
- 
Risk of loss of confidentiality:  
The risks with hemodynamic and postoperative data do not constitute health risks, but rather 
those of data security and confidentiality. Confidentiality will be maintained by making the study 
data available to only the investigators, and by omitting specific patient information (name, 
hospital number) from any published data. 
 
- 
Protection against Risk: 
All parent(s)/legally authorized representatives (LAR), (their families and their personal 
physicians where appropriate), will be informed in advance of executing the informed consent 
document of all potential risks attendant to participation in study protocol as described above. 
Throughout the performance of this study and during the performance of all procedures, subjects 
will be carefully monitored in accordance with current medical practices. Treatment with a single 

dose of MP as proposed in this study has had few if any reported side effects.  Patients whose 
parent(s)/legally authorized representatives (LAR) refuse consent or who are not enrolled in this 
study may receive intraoperative MP, based on their attending cardiothoracic surgeons or 
anesthesiologist preference.  Based upon the extensive experience with all aspects of the study 
protocol procedures, it is anticipated that that the risk of adverse events associated with the study 
will be acceptably low. Maximum efforts will be undertaken to ensure the safety of all study 
participants. All personnel involved in performance of the study and its procedures will be fully 
trained and extensively experienced. All serious adverse events will be required to be reported to 
the local IRB per local protocol within 24 hours of it being brought to the attention of the 
attending physician of the patient as well as the principal investigator of the study. Other (non 
severe) adverse events will be reported according to local IRB protocol. In accordance with the 
current revision of the Declaration of Helsinki and other applicable regulations, a patient (or 
patient’s parent(s)/legally authorized representatives (LAR)) has the right to withdraw the patient 
from the study at any time and for any reason without prejudice to patient’s future medical care 
by the physician or at the institution. Should a patient (or patient’s  parent(s)/legally authorized 
representatives (LAR)) request or decide to withdraw from the study, all efforts will be made to 
complete and report the observations as thoroughly as possible through the date of withdrawal 
and the protocol-related observations for the last visit. If the patient is withdrawn due to an 
adverse event, the Investigator is to arrange for the patient to have follow-up visits until the 
adverse event has resolved or stabilized in addition to the evaluations required for the end of the 
study. Confidentiality will be maintained by making the study data available to only the 
investigators, and by omitting specific patient information (name, hospital number) from any 
published data. Appropriate HIPAA consents and procedures will also be employed to ensure 
confidentiality. 
 
1.5.2 
Benefits  
There is no known, direct benefit to participation. Neurodevelopmental testing at 1 year of age is 
not standard of care at all institutions, but is a secondary endpoint in this study.  Many families 
would consider this evaluation by a developmental specialist at a year of age a benefit. 

2 
AIMS 
2.1 
Primary Aim 
 Compare the effects of intraoperative methylprednisolone (MP) to placebo on 
morbidity and mortality following neonatal cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).  
 
2.2 
Secondary Aims 
 Compare the effects of MP to placebo on the duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU 
and hospital stay post cardiac surgery. 
Hypothesis: Neonates receiving MP will have decreased morbidity and capillary leak 
which will result in shorter ICU and hospital stay. 
Endpoints: 
Time of mechanical ventilation, ICU stay, and total hospital stay 
Number of days alive and out of the hospital at 90 days post cardiac surgery 
 
 Compare the effects of MP to placebo on neurologic and developmental outcomes at 1 
year. 
Hypothesis: Neonates receiving MP will have improved neurologic and developmental 
outcomes at 1 year. 
Endpoints: Bayley Scale of Infant Development at 1 year 
 
 Compare the effects of MP to placebo on the inflammatory response to 
cardiopulmonary bypass. 
Hypothesis: Neonates treated with MP will have altered production of inflammatory 
cytokines and other biomarkers of organ dysfunction. 
Endpoints: 
- 
Multiple agents serially measured preoperatively and following CPB by novel 
multiplexer technique including but not limited to: 
- 
Cytokines 
- 
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) 
- 
Microribonucleic acid (miRNAs) 
- 
Endothelial function 
 
 Compare the safety of MP to placebo following cardiac surgery. 
Hypothesis: Neonates treated with MP will have a similar rate of adverse events over 
the first 30 days after surgery. 
Endpoint: 
- 
Incidence of adverse events and serious adverse events 
- 
Rise in creatinine and incidence of acute kidney injury 

3 
SELECTION OF PARTICIPANTS 
3.1 
Inclusion Criteria 
- 
< 1 month of age (≤31 days of life) 
- 
Male and female patients  
- 
Scheduled to undergo cardiac surgery involving CPB  
- 
Consent obtained from parent(s)/Legally Authorized Representative (LAR)  
 
3.2 
Exclusion Criteria 
Patients who meet any of these criteria are not eligible for enrollment as study participants 
 
- 
Prematurity:  < 37 weeks post gestational age at time of surgery 
- 
Treatment with intravenous steroids within the two days prior to scheduled surgery. 
- 
Participation in research studies involving the evaluation of investigational drugs or vaccines 
within 30 days of randomization. 
- 
Suspected infection that would contraindicate steroid use (e.g. – Herpes) 
- 
Known hypersensitivity to IVMP or one of its components or other contraindication to 
steroid therapy (e.g. - gastrointestinal bleeding). 
- 
Preoperative use of mechanical circulatory support or active resuscitation at the time of 
proposed randomization. 
- 
Inability to comply with study procedures. 

 
4 
Study Design 
This is a multi-center, prospective, randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study of 
intraoperative MP in neonates undergoing CPB. Patients will be allocated to one of the 2 study 
groups in the ratio of 1:1.  The randomization will be stratified by corrective vs. palliative 
surgery and by surgeon. The Primary Endpoint is a composite morbidity-mortality outcome, 
evaluated as intention to treat (ITT). Secondary endpoints include inotropic score, incidence of 
LCOS, fluid balance, ICU stay parameters, levels of inflammatory markers, safety parameters, 
and neurodevelopmental outcomes at 1 year. A two-sided test with a type I error rate of 0.05 will 
be used for all endpoints with no adjustments of the p-value for multiple testing.   
It is expected that 190 patients (95 patients per treatment arm) will be need to be enrolled in the 
study to show a significant difference between groups. The annual amount of eligible & 
consenting patients at MUSC for this trial and a similar trial over 3 years was 35 cases/year. The 
annual amount of eligible patients at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta based on the surgical 
volume in 2012 would be 74 neonates.  Anticipating a 70% consent rate would result in 50 cases 
a year.  As such, this study would expect to reach the goal of 190 evaluable subjects in 4 years, 
within the 5 year proposed grant cycle. 
 
4.1 
Study Endpoints 
4.1.1 
Primary Endpoint  
Composite Morbidity-Mortality Outcome 
The composite morbidity-mortality outcome will be met if any of the following occur after 
surgery but before hospital discharge: death, cardiac arrest, extracorporeal membrane 
oxygenation, renal insufficiency (creatinine more than two times normal), hepatic insufficiency 
(aspartate aminotransferase or alanine aminotransferase more than two times normal > 36 hrs 
post-op), or lactic acidosis (>5mmol/L, that is increasing). This outcome is ideal because death 
rarely occurs in this population.  Similar to others107,114,115, we have found this endpoint to be 
highly associated with other important clinical outcomes in this population (Table 1). 117 
 
4.1.2 
Secondary Endpoint  
Compare the effects of MP to placebo on inotropic requirements, incidence of low cardiac output 
syndrome and fluid balance over the first 36 hours after surgery. 
 
Compare the effects of MP to placebo on the duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU and 
hospital stay post cardiac surgery; and number of days alive and out of the hospital 90 days post 
cardiac surgery. 
 
Compare the effects of MP to placebo on neurologic and developmental outcomes at 1 year. 
 
Compare the effects of MP to placebo on the inflammatory response to cardiopulmonary bypass. 
 
Compare the safety of MP to placebo following cardiac surgery. 
 

5 
STUDY TREATMENT REGIMEN 
5.1 
Premature Study Discontinuation  
5.1.1 
Premature Discontinuation of Study Treatment 
Study treatment may be prematurely discontinued for any participant for any of the following 
reasons: 
1. Study participation will be discontinued if a participant: 
a.  Does not undergo cardiac surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass. 
2. Study treatment may also be prematurely discontinued for any participant if the investigator 
or attending physician believes that the study treatment is no longer in the best interest of the 
participant. 
3. Participants will be analyzed in the following groups 
a. Modified ITT sample – all randomized participants who underwent CPB. 
b. Safety sample – all randomized participants who underwent CPB and received study 
drug. 
c. Per protocol sample – All randomized participants who underwent CPB, received 
study drug, and had no major protocol deviations (i.e. open label steroids). 

6 
CRITERIA FOR PREMATURE TERMINATION OF THE STUDY 
6.1 
PARTICIPANT WITHDRAWAL CRITERIA 
Participants may be prematurely terminated from the study for the following reasons: 
1. The participant’s parent(s)/LAR elects to withdraw consent from all future study 
activities, including follow-up. 
Participants who prematurely terminate from this study due to withdrawal of consent will be 
included up until the point consent was withdrawn. 

 
7 
STUDY PROCEDURES 
 
7.1 
Enrollment and Screening Procedures 
Other than the study drug regimen and schedule of measurements outlined below, subjects will 
receive all care and medications at the discretion of their attending physician.  
 
Patients will be recruited from regular lines of referral of patients to pediatric cardiac surgical 
centers.  Study subjects will consist of patients who are admitted for scheduled cardiac surgery 
requiring cardiopulmonary bypass.  These patients are identified by their cardiac anatomy and 
age, which is known to their pediatric cardiologist and surgeon. For the purposes of this study, 
the principal investigator, co-investigator, or research coordinator will evaluate the eligibility of 
each patient scheduled for surgery. The Inclusion/Exclusion criteria will be evaluated and the 
patient recorded in a screening register. If the patient is considered to be a potential participant, 
then the entire study protocol will be discussed with the  parent(s)/LAR.  The PI, Co-I, and/or 
research coordinator will answer any and all questions, and the family will be allowed adequate 
time to consider patient participation. The consent form will be signed in accordance with all 
policies and regulations regarding consenting a minor patient. The original informed consent 
document will be retained within the subject’s study file. The patient’s parent(s)/LAR will give 
consent for this study as well as appropriate HIPAA consent.  Copies of all consents will be 
given to the  parent(s)/LAR and a note in the patient’s chart will document consent.   
 
7.1.1 
Screening 
The patient will be assessed for inclusion and exclusion criteria.   
 
7.1.2 
Enrollment  
The subject’s  parent(s)/LAR will be approached prior to surgery by the PI, Co-I, and/or research 
coordinators who will introduce the study.  If interested, the  parent(s)/LAR will be provided a 
copy of the IFC to review and encouraged to ask questions. The consent will be reviewed in full 
and all questions will be answered.  The consent can be signed on the day of surgery.  A copy of 
the signed consent form will be given or mailed to the parent(s)/LAR after informed consent has 
been obtained.  Enrollment will take place as close as possible to the day of surgery. 
 
7.1.3 
Randomization 
This is a randomized placebo-controlled multicenter study of intraoperative MP in neonates 
undergoing CPB. The goal for subject randomization for this trial is to prevent potential selection 
biases, prevent serious imbalances in the distributions of important baseline prognostic factors 
and ensure the compatibility of the two subject groups. Based on knowledge from previous 
studies and clinical experiences, cardiac operation (corrective vs. palliative surgery) and surgeon 
are potential prognostic factors that may affect the primary outcome. Serious imbalances in the 
distribution of either of these two factors may reduce the compatibility of the study groups, and 
therefore affect the interpretation and the recipient of the trial results.  Eligible subjects are 
randomized at 1:1 ratio to either the intraoperative methylprednisolone (MP) or placebo 
treatment group. See section 11 for more details. Randomization should occur as close as 
possible to scheduled surgery but may occur at any time prior to surgery. 

7.1.4 
Intraoperative Management 
Study drug will be delivered to the operating room with the patient.  The anesthesiologist will 
infuse the study drug intravenously over 30 minutes after central lines are placed and study labs 
have been drawn.  The study drug will be started prior to skin incision.  Intraoperative 
management, surgical and bypass techniques will not be standardized, but will be recorded in the 
CRFs.   
 
7.1.5 
Postoperative Management 
All patients will be managed postoperatively in a dedicated pediatric cardiac intensive care unit 
by both a cardiac intensivist and cardiothoracic surgeon.  Hemodynamic monitoring will 
minimally consist of ECG, invasive beat to beat arterial blood pressure, pulse oximetry, and 
noninvasive blood pressure. A urinary catheter will be used to assess total urinary output during 
the first 36 hours. hematology, biochemistry, blood gases, lactate and ionized calcium may be 
performed at the discretion of the attending physician. Cardiovascular medication will not be 
standardized, but will be recorded in the CRFs. To allow for the calculation of a vaso-active 
inotropic score 37, 107, the doses of inotropic medications will be recorded at admission to the ICU 
from the operating room and every 4-12 hours for 36 hours.  The highest hourly inotropic score 
and vaso-active inotropic score over the first 36 hours postoperatively will also be recorded. 
Routine use of postoperative steroids will be discouraged.   
 
7.1.6 
Samples Collected 
- 
Blood collection (5 mL/timepoint) will occur: prior to the administration of study drug 
(pre-CPB -baseline), Post-CPB, 4, 12, and 24 hours post-CPB resulting in a total 
collection of 25 mL over a 30 hour period. 
- 
Two samples are collected in the operating room and are coincident with CPB priming. 
- 
The 3 post-operative samples are taken with a minimum of an 8-hour sampling interval.   
 
During the cooling and rewarming phases of CPB, routine clinical measurements of activated 
clotting time (ACT) are performed.  The remaining discarded plasma may be retained for 
additional analysis.   
 
The site of blood sampling will be a central venous line or arterial line that is placed as part of 
the routine clinical management of these patients, and no additional catheterization or 
venipuncture will be required. 
 
- 
Urine collection will occur at 3 time points: immediately pre-CPB, 2 and 24 hours post-
CPB.   
 
Urine will be collected from a catheter that is placed as part of the routine clinical management.  
In the rare situation in which no urinary catheter is in place, no additional catheterization will 
occur and urine will not be collected.  Data related to the level of circulating inflammatory and 
organ injury markers will be collected but run in a batch. 
 
 
 
 

8 
STUDY DRUG PREPARATION AND ADMINISTRATION 
Study medication will be purchased, stored and tracked by Investigational Drug Services. When 
a patient is identified as eligible for the study and the parent(s)/LAR have given informed 
consent, the physician will provide an order to the investigational pharmacist.  The 
investigational pharmacist will then assign the patient to the next available Subject ID on the 
corresponding list based on information on the surgeon and the surgery type, and prepare the 
study drug according to the treatment name provided on the randomization list. 
 
Study medication: 
Methylprednisolone: will be given at a dose of 30 mg/kg body weight and a concentration of 
62.5 mg/cc mixed in a 3 mL syringe. 
 
Placebo: Normal saline will be drawn up in an identical volume to that needed for active study 
drug. 
 
The pharmacy will label the study medication with the special instructions to read: 
 
“Send dose with patient to the OR to be administered IV over 30 minutes after central lines are 
placed and blood is drawn. Follow infusion with 3 mL Normal Saline Flush.” 
 
The study drug will be delivered in a blinded fashion to the anesthesiologist.  The study drug will 
be administered intravenously over 30 minutes with the induction of anesthesia, after central 
lines have been placed and blood drawn, but prior to skin incision. The infusion will be followed 
by a 3 mL normal saline flush. 

 
9 
STUDY WINDOWS  
Data collection should take place within the time limits below: 
 In most cases, subject’s  parent(s)/LAR will be approached prior to surgery date, 
provided a copy of the consent and the informed consent discussion will begin. 
 Consent signature can be obtained at any point prior to surgery. 
 Randomization is considered enrollment in the study and can be performed at any 
point prior to surgery. 
 Where possible, data should be entered within 72 hours of collection and/or 
availability.  

 
10 
SAFETY MONITORING 
Adverse events that are classified as serious according to the definition set forth by the health 
authorities must be reported promptly to NHLBI, DSMB Chair, health authorities, principal 
investigators, and IRBs.  This section defines the types of adverse events and outlines the 
procedures for appropriately collecting, grading, recording, and reporting them.  Information in 
this section complies with ICH Guideline E2A: Clinical Safety Data Management: Definitions 
and Standards for Expedited Reporting and ICH E6: Guideline for Good Clinical Practice, and 
applies the standards set forth in the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Common Terminology 
Criteria for Adverse Events version 3.0 (June 10, 2003). 
10.1 
Definitions 
10.1.1 Adverse Event 
The nature of the disease being study lends itself to a high morbidity and mortality rate. For this 
reason, Adverse Events (AEs) will be collected within the database. Data collection will include 
adverse events as:  
- 
Mediastinitis or poor wound healing requiring surgical exploration 
- 
CDC/NHSN defined blood stream infections, urinary tract infections, and pneumonia 
- 
Hyperglycemia requiring insulin therapy within 36 hours of study drug 
- 
Renal failure requiring renal replacement therapy within 48 hours of study drug 
 
Regardless of the relationship of the adverse event to study drug, the event must be reported as 
an AE if it occurs anytime during the initial neonatal hospitalization for mediastinitis or poor 
wound healing requiring surgical exploration or infection. AEs will be reported to the site PI and 
the study PI as soon as they are found and within a week of discovery.  All AEs will be reported 
to the DSMB at the semiannual meetings.   
10.1.2 Serious Adverse Event 
An SAE is defined as “any adverse event that suggests a significant hazard, contraindication, 
side effect, or precaution.” The nature of the disease being study lends itself to a high morbidity 
and mortality rate. For this reason, SAEs will be collected within the database. Data collection 
will include events as:  
- 
Death 
Any death within the first year of life will be reported as an SAE.  SAEs will be reported to the 
site PI and the study PI within 24 hours of discovering the event.  All SAEs will be reported to 
the IRB within 72 hours of the PIs knowledge of the event.  All SAEs will be reported to the 
local IRB/ DSMB chair within 72 hours of the PI’s knowledge of the event.   

 
10.1.3 Study Deviation 
- 
Therapeutic Steroids 
 
All surgeons and cardiac intensivists that staff our cardiac ICU have agreed to reserve additional 
steroid doses to the most critical scenarios.  If given, it will be recorded in the CRF. Those 
patients will continue to be analyzed in the modified ITT sample and safety sample.  
 
Those that receive steroids outside of the protocol will be considered a major protocol deviation 
and will be excluded from the per protocol sample. 
 
10.2 
Collection and Reporting of Events 
10.2.1 Collection Procedure 
Adverse events will be collected from the time the participant received study drug until the time 
the event is resolved or until 30 days after the participant completes study procedures, whichever 
comes first.  Adverse events may be discovered through any of these methods: 
 
- 
Observing the participant. 
- 
Questioning the participant family; this should be done in an objective manner. 
- 
Receiving an unsolicited complaint from the participant. 
- 
An abnormal value or result from a clinical or laboratory evaluation (e.g., a 
radiograph, an ultrasound, or an electrocardiogram) can also indicate an adverse 
event.  
10.2.2 Recording Procedure 
Throughout the study the investigator will record all adverse events on the appropriate adverse 
event CRF.  The investigator will treat participants experiencing adverse events appropriately 
and observe them at suitable intervals until their symptoms resolve or their status stabilizes. 
 
10.2.3 SAE Grading and Attribution  
The study site will grade the severity of adverse events according to the criteria set forth in the 
National Cancer Institute’s Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events Version 3.0 
(published June 10, 2003).  The grading system for this study will be defined as any adverse 
event meeting the following criteria:   
Grade 3 = Severe and undesirable adverse event. (Marked limitation in activity, some 
assistance usually required; medical intervention/therapy required hospitalization 
possible.) 
Grade 4 = Life-threatening or disabling adverse event. 
Grade 5 = Death. 

 
10.2.4 Reporting Procedure and Timeline 
Any death within the first year of life will be reported as an SAE.  SAEs will be reported to the 
site PI and the study PI and the NHLBI (sponsor) within 24 hours of discovering the event. All 
SAEs will be reported to the local IRB/ DSMB chair within 72 hours of the PI’s knowledge of 
the event.  In addition, the investigator must ensure that these events are entered on the SAE 
report form and the adverse event CRF and sent to the above-mentioned reviewers.   
The DSMB Chair will make a determination if the DSMB must review immediately or not.  
Three way communication will continue until determinations are made for when and who will 
review it.  All events will be in the routine DSMB report at a minimum.  Ad Hoc DSMB review 
meetings can be called if necessary.    
10.2.5 Data Safety Monitoring Plan 
The Data Safety Monitoring Function will be done by an external Data Safety and Monitoring 
Board (DSMB) consisting of members at varying outside institutions using the Co-I 
Biostatistician on the project as the liaison to the group.  The DSMB will consist of a minimum 
of 3 members. The DSMB will review the written protocol for this study prior to its initiation.  
The team will meet regularly (at least every 6 months) during the trial to review the data and any 
safety issues of the trial.  In our summary statement to the DSMC, we will summarize the 
number of subjects enrolled in each group, along with descriptive statistics (e.g. frequencies, 
means, standard deviations, ranges) for all outcome variables. 
 
Given the overall high prevalence of morbidity in this medically fragile study population, the PI 
will continually inform the DSMB of all SAE events in an expedited fashion.  For an additional 
level of safety oversight, the PI will place enrollment on temporary hold when 1 year mortality 
exceeds 35.5% and the DSMB will be asked to provide an expedited data safety review, 
concluding with next step recommendations.  This number is based on the PHN SVR trial 
demonstrating a 29% 1 year mortality.47  For a sample size of 190 subjects assuming a 29% 
expected rate for death, the 95% confidence interval is 0.225 to 0.355.Interim analyses for 
efficacy and futility will be provided to the DSMB, as outlined in the protocol.  The other 
investigators will remain blinded unless the DSMB determines that the study should be stopped.  
If there are safety concerns the DSMB may choose to meet more frequently or receive more 
frequent summary reports.  A medical monitor will be available on site if needed.  
 
We consider the planned interventions to be low risk but believe the DSMB will provide 
valuable input to the projects.  The Principal Investigator will help to arrange the meetings and 
work with the statistician to develop the blinded reports. The statistician will provide any 
partially or fully unblinded reports to the DSMB. 
As per HRPP 9.1 guidelines, each site will be responsible for reviewing research activities at the 
respective site. MUSC will remain the lead site, but IRB approval will occur at each site. 
Similarly adverse events will be reported to both sites simultaneously. There will be frequent 
contact between the 2 sites so that the lead center will know when each enrollment occurs. 
Amendments, continuing reviews, and protocol deviations will be conducted through the local 
IRB but immediately shared with the other participating IRB. 

IRB - The study protocol, consent, and plans will be approved by the each institution’s 
respective IRB prior to the conducting of the study and will be monitored during the study per 
local IRB procedures. 
 
Data Processing - As case report forms are completed, the Research Coordinator will enter the 
data into the database and will keep such data entry up to date at least weekly.   Any concerns or 
aberrations in protocol or procedures will be brought to the attention of the PI. 
 
Data Security and Confidentiality - The database will be dedicated solely for use by this study 
protocol and will be password protected.  Case report forms will be kept in a secure file within 
the Department of Pediatric Cardiology. Data files will be password protected.  Personal 
identification information will only be kept by persons directly involved with the study and then 
only used for study protocol follow-up and safety monitoring. 
 
10.2.6 Institutional Review Board Notification 
The investigator will ensure the timely dissemination of SAE information based upon local IRB 
regulations and guidelines. 

 
11 
RANDOMIZATION, BLINDING, UNBLINDING 
This is a randomized placebo-controlled multicenter study of intraoperative MP in neonates 
undergoing CPB. The goal for subject randomization for this trial is to prevent potential selection 
biases, prevent serious imbalances in the distributions of important baseline prognostic factors 
and ensure the compatibility of the two subject groups. Based on knowledge from previous 
studies and clinical experiences, cardiac operation (corrective vs. palliative surgery) and surgeon 
are potential prognostic factors that may affect the primary outcome. Serious imbalances in the 
distribution of either of these two factors may reduce the compatibility of the study groups, and 
therefore affect the interpretation and the recipient of the trial results.  Eligible subjects are 
randomized at 1:1 ratio to either the intraoperative methylprednisolone (MP) or placebo 
treatment group.  
 
11.1 
Randomization 
11.1.1 Randomization Code Development 
The randomization scheme will be designed by the project biostatistician in collaboration with 
the investigational pharmacy.  A permuted block randomization scheme stratified by cardiac 
operation and surgeon will be used so that imbalances between the two treatment group sizes 
within each stratum (cardiac operation by surgeon) will be contained. A list of randomization 
codes will be generated by the study statistician with information on stratum number, stratum 
name, a sequential ID, 4-digit subject randomization code in random order, treatment code (1 or 
2), and treatment name (MP or placebo). 
 
11.1.2 Randomization Code Management 
A hard copy of the unblinded randomization code lists will be kept in the Central files at the Data 
Coordination Unit at MUSC.   
11.2 
Blinding 
A hard copy of the site-specific unblinded randomization code list for each surgeon is sent to the 
site pharmacist, who is in charge of study drug kit preparation. This list contains all 
randomization codes for the surgeons in that site. This randomization list contains information on 
stratum number, stratum name, a sequential ID, the 4-digit subject randomization code, and 
column spaces for subject initials and date of randomization to be filled by the investigator 
during the randomization process.  
 
The 4-digit randomization code is globally unique, and contains no information on treatment 
arm, time sequence of randomization, surgeon, and cardiac operation.  
When randomized, the investigator will give the randomization code to the site pharmacist, who 
will then check the unblinded randomization code list and find out the treatment assignment 
associated with the randomization code. A study drug will be prepared accordingly and will be 
used by the investigator for study subject treatment.  

 
11.3 
Unblinding 
When clinically justified by the treating physician of the study subject, treatment assignment for 
a specific subject can be unblinded. In this case, the study team member must first contact the 
study PI, Eric Graham and discuss the reason for unblinding.  If it is determined that unblinding 
is necessary, then Dr. Graham will log the subject ID and reason for unblinding.  The site will 
then be directed to contact the central pharmacy for unblinding. For each unblinding cases, a 
document will be created with detailed information on the site, surgeon, subject, reason for 
unblinding, the time, and the names of every investigator who is unblinded for the treatment 
assignment of the subject.  An SAE form will be completed for each unblinded subject and the 
information will be forwarded to the DSMB chair in an expedited manner. 

 
12 
STATISTICAL CONSIDERATIONS/ANALYTICAL PLAN 
12.1 
Sample Size and Power Calculation For Primary Endpoint 
Using data from the previous steroid study performed by Dr. Graham the incidence of a similar 
composite endpoint occurred in 33% of the subjects.  This proposed study is powered to detect 
an absolute difference of 20% between groups.  Enrollment of 190 patients (95 per treatment 
group) will be required to provide 80% power to detect this difference between groups, with an 
experiment wise alpha of 0.05 (two-sided), allowing for 1 interim look at the data to assess for 
superiority and futility.  The power analysis was performed using Cytel’s East software package 
(Cambridge, MA) and assumes an O’Brien Fleming alpha spending function. 
 
12.2 
Sample Size and Power Calculation for Secondary Endpoints 
From the wide variety of Secondary Endpoints, a subset have available data to statistically assess 
whether or not they are adequately powered from the enrollment necessary to power the Primary 
Endpoint. 
  
 ICU Length of Stay (LOS). Preliminary data suggest that ICU LOS data are highly skewed in 
this population, with 20% having ICU LOS > 10 days.  We performed statistical simulations 
(with 5,000 replications) in which we assumed that 40% of subjects receiving placebo would 
have ICU LOS > 10 days but similar distribution within the ≤10 day and >10 day categories, 
and under such assumptions we found that having 95 subjects per group provided about 75% 
power to detect a difference of this magnitude. 
 
 Maximum Inotropic Score Over 36 Hours.  Graham 5 found maximum inotropic scores over 
the first 36 hours postoperatively of 14.4  3.6 vs. 15.0  3.9 for intraoperative MP alone vs. 
combined preoperative and operative MP.  Assuming similar standard deviations in this 
study, 95 patients per arm with analyzable data will provide >95% power to detect a 
difference of ≥2 between groups.  
 
 Neurodevelopmental Outcomes.  The Pediatric Heart Network Single Ventricle 
Reconstruction Trial 47, evaluated neurodevelopmental outcomes at 12 months of age using 
the Bayley Scales of Infant Development.  Their results revealed a mental scale raw score of 
91.93 with a standard deviation of 7.25 in 172 infants undergoing staged palliation for 
hypoplastic left heart syndrome and related variants.  Although dropout is unlikely prior to 
assessing the primary endpoint, it is more likely prior to the 12 month follow-up. Assuming a 
similar standard deviation and a 15% dropout rate, 81 patients per arm with analyzable data 
will provide 99% power to detect a difference of 5 points.   
 
12.3 
Subgroup Analyses 
The modified ITT population, defined as the set of all patients randomized to treatment and 
underwent cardiopulmonary bypass, will be analyzed and presented for the Primary Endpoint.  
The same analyses will be conducted on the PP population, defined as those patients who are 
randomized, receive study drug as defined in the protocol, and have no major protocol violations 
preventing analysis (e.g. – post-op patients who receive steroids off-protocol).  A two-sided test 

with alpha of 0.05 will be used. The following subgroups will be analyzed for the Primary 
Endpoint: 
 
Underlying diagnosis:  
 
Palliated vs. Corrective procedure 
Age:   
 
 
 
 
 
≤ 7 days vs. >7 days  
Body weight:   
 
 
 
< 2.5 kg vs.  >2.5 kg 
 
12.4 
Statistical Methods 
Descriptive statistics will be used to characterize the two treatment groups with respect to 
demographics and baseline clinical characteristics.  T-tests, chi-square tests, and non-parametric 
statistical tests will be used, as appropriate, to compare the groups at baseline.  Any significant 
imbalances will be accounted for in the analyses using multivariable techniques.  The primary 
intention-to-treat analysis comparing the composite outcome between treatment groups will be 
conducted using generalized linear model.  The primary analysis will be adjusted for underlying 
diagnosis and surgeon.  Logistic regression models will be used for the per-protocol analysis and 
for analyses of secondary categorical outcomes.  For continuous variables such as change from 
baseline in vital signs, hematology, and clinical chemistry parameters, analysis of covariance 
(ANCOVA) will be utilized with the baseline value used as covariates.  Unless otherwise stated, 
baseline is defined as the last observation before the administration of the study drug. Time to 
event data (duration of mechanical ventilation, length of ICU stay, and length of hospitalization) 
will be assessed via non-parametric log-rank tests. 
 
Once half of the study subjects have been recruited and assessed, an interim analysis will also be 
conducted and presented to the DSMC, for which the p-value thresholds for stopping the study 
for superiority or futility will be 0.003 and 0.72, respectively.  The p-value used at the end of the 
study with full enrollment will be 0.049, preserving an experiment-wise 2-sided alpha level of 
0.05.  These stopping thresholds are based on an Obrien-Fleming alpha spending function.  All 
analyses will be conducted in SAS v9.2 (Cary, NC). 
 
Multiple correlation analyses will be performed between the inflammatory markers and other 
continuous outcome measures, such as fluid balance, inotropic score and hemodynamic 
variables. An assessment will also be made of the association between the inflammatory markers 
and categorical variables, such as the composite morbidity-mortality outcome and its 
components. Analyzed safety variables will include all reported adverse events, the incidence of 
acute renal injury and postoperative creatinine, hyperglycemia and infection. All patients who 
are randomized, received study drug, and underwent cardiopulmonary bypass will be included in 
the safety analyses.  
 
12.5 
 Study Endpoint Assessment 
12.5.1 Primary Endpoint 
Composite Morbidity-Mortality Outcome 
The composite morbidity-mortality outcome will be met if any of the following occur after 
surgery but before hospital discharge: death, cardiac arrest, extracorporeal membrane 
oxygenation, renal insufficiency (creatinine more than two times normal), hepatic insufficiency 
(aspartate aminotransferase or alanine aminotransferase more than two times normal >36 hours 

post-op), or lactic acidosis (>5mmol/L, that is increasing). This outcome is ideal because death 
rarely occurs in this population.  Similar to others107,114,115, we have found this endpoint to be 
highly associated with other important clinical outcomes in this population (Table 1). 117 
 
A secondary analysis will be performed on the incidence of the Composite Morbidity-Mortality 
Outcome at 30 days post cardiac surgery (regardless of hospital discharge status). 
 
12.5.2 Secondary Endpoints 
 CPB data (minutes) 
- 
duration of  Deep Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest (DHCA) (if utilized) 
- 
total duration of CPB 
- 
duration of myocardial ischemia (cross clamp time) 
 
 Inotropic Score and Vaso-active Inotropic Score 
Inotropic score is calculated by the equation: 
(dopamine+dobutamine) + (milrinone x10) + 
[(epinephrine+norepinephrine+isoproterenol)x100].  All drug doses are in 
micrograms/kg/min. 
 
 Vasoactive Inotopic score is calculated by the equation: 
 
(dopamine+dobutamine)] + (milrinone x10) + 
[(epinephrine+norepinephrine+isoproterenol)x100] + (vasopressin x10).  All drug doses are 
in micrograms/kg/min except vasopressin which is miliunits/kg/min. To convert vasopressin 
from units/kg/min to miliunits/kg/min multiply by 1,000 and inserted into the equation.   
 
 LCOS – Assessed over the first 36 hours 
LCOS will be determined to be present if there are clinical signs and symptoms (e.g., 
tachycardia, oliguria, cold extremities) which required one or more of the following 
interventions during the initial 36 hours post admission from the operating room: mechanical 
circulatory support, escalation of existing pharmacological circulatory support to >100% 
over baseline, or initiation of new pharmacological circulatory support.  Despite the inherent 
subjectivity of this definition, it imposes no additional risk to calculate and will be included 
as a secondary endpoint. 
 
 Hemodynamic Parameters 
Vital Signs: Heart rate, systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressures and pulse oximeter 
saturation 
Left and right atrial pressures when monitoring lines are present 
Cerebral and somatic (renal) near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) when present 
 
 Laboratory Parameters 
Hematology: complete blood count (CBC)  
Biochemistry: Na+, K+, Cl-, HCO3, BUN, creatinine, glucose, AST, ALT, alkaline 
phosphatase, total protein, albumin and total bilirubin. 
Arterial Blood Gas: PO2, PCO2, pH, HCO3, Lactate, Ionized Calcium 

These laboratory tests are standard of care and not required by the study. When available 
they will be recorded at the time points described in Table 2. 
 
 Acute Kidney Injury 
The Acute Kidney Injury Network’s criteria for acute kidney injury will be applied.109  
Specifically, postoperative acute kidney injury will be defined as an increase in serum 
creatinine above the pre-operative level by either an absolute value of >0.3 mg/dL, a ≥ 50% 
increase or urine output below 0.5 mL/kg/hr over a 6 hour period.   
 
 Other Parameters 
Duration mechanical ventilation (hours), ICU stay (hours), and hospitalization (days) 
Fluid intake (ml) and urine output (ml).  In addition the number of days alive and out of the 
hospital at 90 days post cardiac surgery will be recorded. 
 
 Bayley Scales of Infant Development 
The Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID-III is the current version) is a standard 
series of measurements used primarily to assess the motor (fine and gross), language 
(receptive and expressive), and cognitive development of infants and toddlers, ages 0-3. This 
measure consists of a series of developmental play tasks and takes between 45 - 60 minutes 
to administer. Raw scores of successfully completed items are converted to scale scores and 
to composite scores. These scores are used to determine the child's performance compared 
with norms taken from typically developing children of their age.  This will be performed in 
conjunction with an evaluation from a specialist in Developmental Pediatrics at 12 months of 
age. 
 
The results of this evaluation will be made available to the parent(s)/LAR and pediatrician.  
Appropriate consultation with occupational, physical or speech therapist or follow up with 
Developmental Pediatrics will be made based on the specialist recommendations. 
 
 Hemodynamics and Post-operative Course 
During the operative period, hemodynamic values will be recorded at time intervals 
coinciding with the blood collection.  All measurements will be obtained from the catheters 
and monitors in place for the normal clinical conduct of the surgical procedure. In the 
postoperative period, the requirement for inotropic medications, duration of intubation and 
mechanical ventilation, duration of ICU and hospital stay, and fluid status will be 
documented from existing medical documentation.  Any data obtained through the course of 
the study may be used for clinical management of the patient. Data related to the level of 
circulating biomarkers will be collected but run in batch at a core laboratory, therefore this 
will not be immediately available for direct patient care. All historical and demographic data 
will come from existing records. 
 
 Quantitative Measures of Inflammatory Biomarkers 
Whole blood samples of 5 ml will be collected in a heparinized tube at critical peri/post-
operative time points for the measurement of markers of oxidative stress, organ damage, 
cytokines, MMPs, and miRNAs. During the cooling and rewarming phases of CPB, routine 
clinical measurements of activated clotting time (ACT) are performed.  The remaining 

discarded plasma will be retained for additional analysis.  This approach minimizes blood 
loss and provides additional CPB time points for analysis. Plasma will be isolated by 
centrifugation, decanted into aliquots and stored at -80°C until processed for immunoassays.  
All samples will be batched and run simultaneously to avoid potential laboratory assay 
variance.  The list chosen here is not exhaustive, and would be expected to change as new 
information is discovered over the course of this study.  The time course for the proposed 
measurements has been designed to minimize blood draws.  
 
12.6 
Study Data Collection 
12.6.1 Table 2: Schedule of Measurements  
 
(a)PREOP 
(c)T=1, 2 
OR 
 
PCICU 
 
T=3 
4 hrs 
 
8 hrs 
T=4 
12 hr 
T=5 
24 hr 
 
36 hr D/C 
30 
days 
Post-
op 
90 
days 
Post-
op 
1 Year 
Followup
Windows 
 
 
Arrival 
± 1 
hr  ± 1 hr ± 1 hr ± 1 hr ± 1 hr 
 
 
 
12-14 
Months 
Informed Consent 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Inclusion/Exclusion 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Demographics 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Diagnosis Details 
 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Med/Surg History 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
X 
 
 
 
 
Randomization 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Vital Signs 
X 
 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
 
 
 
 
ABG, Ion Ca++, 
Lactate (e) 
X 
 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
 
 
 
 
Hematology (e) 
X 
 
X 
 
 
 
X 
X 
 
 
 
 
Biochemistry (e) 
X 
 
X 
 
 
 
X 
X 
 
 
 
 
Diuretics 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
X 
 
 
 
 
Biomarker 
 
(b)XX 
 
X 
 
X 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
Urine Sample 
 
X 
X 
 
 
 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
Cardio-Pulmonary 
Bypass (CPB)  
 
 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Inotropic 
Scores 
X 
 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
 
 
 
 
Highest Inotropic 
Score 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
X 
 
 
 
 
36 HR Assessment 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
X 
 
 
 
 
I/O (d) 
 
 
 
 
 
X 
 
X 
 
 
 
 
LCOS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
X 
 
 
 
 
Duration of 
Ventilation 
X 
Length of ICU & 
Hospital Stay 
X 
Composite Outcome 
X 
X 
Days alive & out of 
hospital 
 
 
X 
Bayley Scale 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
X 
Study Completion  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
X 
Adverse Events 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
 
 
X 
 

(a) Last Values before Surgery 
(b) 2 Biomarker Samples in OR regardless of time 
(c) T= Time point of blood/urine sample for study 
(d) I/O collected 1 day post-op 
(e) These laboratory values are standard of care and will be recorded at these time points if obtained. They are not 
required 

12.6.2 Medical and Surgical History 
Medical history will be collected, including the existence of current signs and symptoms and 
clinical significance for each body system. 
12.6.3 Study Completion 
The percent of participants who complete the study, losses to follow-up, times to lost to follow-
up, and reasons for discontinuation (e.g., adverse events) will be presented. Sample Size and 
Power Calculations 
Some missing data are inevitable in any clinical study. The study will make every effort to 
minimize missing data through rigorous study procedures. However, when missing data occur, 
we will take steps in the analysis plan to understand any potential biases stemming from the 
missing data and to both describe and account for them. These methods include a comparison of 
those with and without missing data, documentation of sources of missing data, and evaluations 
of the pattern of missingness. 
 
12.7 
Sample Size and Power Calculation For Primary Endpoint 
Using data from the previous steroid study performed by Dr. Graham the incidence of a similar 
composite endpoint occurred in 33% of the subjects.  This proposed study is powered to detect 
an absolute difference of 20% between groups.  Enrollment of 190 patients (95 per treatment 
group) will be required to provide 80% power to detect this difference between groups, with an 
experiment-wise alpha of 0.05 (two-sided), allowing for 1 interim look at the data to assess for 
superiority and futility.  The power analysis was performed using Cytel’s East software package 
(Cambridge, MA) and assumes an O’Brien Fleming alpha spending function. 
 
12.8 
Sample Size and Power Calculation for Secondary Endpoints 
From the wide variety of Secondary Endpoints, a subset have available data to statistically assess 
whether or not they are adequately powered from the enrollment necessary to power the Primary 
Endpoint. 
  
 ICU Length of Stay (LOS). Preliminary data suggest that ICU LOS data are highly skewed in 
this population, with 20% having ICU LOS > 10 days.  We performed statistical simulations 
(with 5,000 replications) in which we assumed that 40% of subjects receiving placebo would 
have ICU LOS > 10 days but similar distribution within the ≤10 day and >10 day categories, 
and under such assumptions we found that having 95 subjects per group provided about 75% 
power to detect a difference of this magnitude. 
 
 Maximum Inotropic Score Over 36 Hours.  Graham 5 found maximum inotropic scores over 
the first 36 hours postoperatively of 14.4  3.6 vs. 15.0  3.9 for intraoperative MP alone vs. 
combined preoperative and operative MP.  Assuming similar standard deviations in this 
study, 95 patients per arm with analyzable data will provide >95% power to detect a 
difference of ≥2 between groups.  
 
 Neurodevelopmental Outcomes.  The Pediatric Heart Network Single Ventricle 
Reconstruction Trial 47, evaluated neurodevelopmental outcomes at 12 months of age using 

the Bayley Scales of Infant Development.  Their results revealed a mental scale raw score of 
91.93 with a standard deviation of 7.25 in 172 infants undergoing staged palliation for 
hypoplastic left heart syndrome and related variants.  Although dropout is unlikely prior to 
assessing the primary endpoint, it is more likely prior to the 12 month follow-up. Assuming a 
similar standard deviation and a 15% dropout rate, 81 patients per arm with analyzable data 
will provide 99% power to detect a difference of 5 points.   
 
12.9 
Subgroup Analyses 
The ITT population, defined as the set of all patients randomized to treatment, will be analyzed 
and presented for the Primary Endpoint.  The same analyses will be conducted on the PP 
population, defined as those patients who are randomized, receive MP as defined in the protocol, 
and have no protocol violations preventing analysis (e.g. – post-op patients who receive steroids 
off-protocol).  A two-sided test with alpha of 0.05 will be used. The following subgroups will be 
analyzed for the Primary Endpoint: 
 
Underlying diagnosis:  
 
Palliated vs. Corrective procedure 
Age:   
 
 
 
 
 
≤ 7 days vs. 8-31 days  
Body weight:   
 
 
 
< 2.5 kg  vs.  > 2.5 kg 
 
12.10 
Statistical Methods 
Descriptive statistics will be used to characterize the two treatment groups with respect to 
demographics and baseline clinical characteristics.  T-tests, chi-square tests, and non-parametric 
statistical tests will be used, as appropriate, to compare the groups at baseline.  Any significant 
imbalances will be accounted for in the analyses using multivariable techniques.  The primary 
intention-to-treat analysis comparing the composite outcome between treatment groups will be 
conducted using generalized linear model.  The primary analysis will be adjusted for underlying 
diagnosis and surgeon.  Logistic regression models will be used for the per-protocol analysis and 
for analyses of secondary categorical outcomes.  For continuous variables such as change from 
baseline in vital signs, hematology, and clinical chemistry parameters, analysis of covariance 
(ANCOVA) will be utilized with the baseline value used as covariates.  Unless otherwise stated, 
baseline is defined as the last observation before the administration of the study drug. Time to 
event data (duration of mechanical ventilation, length of ICU stay, and length of hospitalization) 
will be assessed via non-parametric log-rank tests. 
 
Once half of the study subjects have been recruited and assessed, an interim analysis will also be 
conducted and presented to the DSMB, for which the p-value thresholds for stopping the study 
for superiority or futility will be 0.003 and 0.72, respectively.  The p-value used at the end of the 
study with full enrollment will be 0.049, preserving an experimentwise 2-sided alpha level of 
0.05.  These stopping thresholds are based on an Obrien-Fleming alpha spending function.  For 
an additional level of safety oversight, the PI will place enrollment on temporary hold if 1 year 
mortality exceeds 35.5% and the DSMB will be asked to provide an expedited data safety 
review, concluding with next step recommendations.  All analyses will be conducted in SAS 
v9.2 (Cary, NC). 
 

Multiple correlation analyses will be performed between the inflammatory markers and other 
continuous outcome measures, such as fluid balance, inotropic score and hemodynamic 
variables. An assessment will also be made of the association between the inflammatory markers 
and categorical variables, such as the composite morbidity-mortality outcome and its 
components. Analyzed safety variables will include all reported adverse events, the incidence of 
acute renal injury and postoperative creatinine, hyperglycemia and infection.  
 
12.11 
Reporting Deviations from Original Statistical Plan 
The principal features of the study design and of the plan for statistical analysis of the data are 
outlined in this protocol and in the subsequent Statistical Analysis Plan (SAP).  Any changes in 
these principal features will require a protocol or an SAP amendment, which would be subject to 
review by the independent DSMB, the study sponsor, and the health authorities.  These changes 
will be described in the final report as appropriate.   

 
13 
SOURCE DATA  
13.1 
Identifying Source Data 
The investigator is required to keep accurate records to ensure that the conduct of the study is 
fully documented.  The results of all clinical and clinical laboratory evaluations will be 
maintained in the participant’s medical records and the data will be transferred to clinical CRFs. 
Source data is any source from which the study data is first found. Source data is accompanied 
by the person making the entry with a date of the entry, or a time date stamp and the signature of 
the persons making the entry (either computer generated signatures or other means to track back 
the entry person).  
13.2 
Permitting Access to Source Data 
The investigational site participating in this study will maintain the highest degree of 
confidentiality permitted for the clinical and research information obtained from the participants 
in this clinical trial.  Medical and research records should be maintained at each site in the 
strictest confidence.  However, as a part of the quality assurance and legal responsibilities of an 
investigation, the investigational site must permit authorized representatives of the sponsor(s) 
and health authorities to examine (and when required by applicable law, to copy) clinical records 
for the purpose of quality assurance reviews, audits, and evaluations of the study safety and 
progress.  Unless required by the laws that permit copying of records, only the coded identity 
associated with documents or with other participant data may be copied (and all personally 
identifying information must be obscured).  Authorized representatives as noted above are bound 
to maintain the strict confidentiality of medical and research information that is linked to 
identified individuals.  The investigational site will normally be notified before auditing visits 
occur. 
The database will be dedicated solely for use by this study protocol and will be password 
protected.  Case report forms will be kept in a secure file within the Department of Pediatric 
Cardiology. Data files will be password protected.  Personal identification information will only 
be kept by persons directly involved with the study and then only used for study protocol follow-
up and safety monitoring. 

 
14 
QUALITY CONTROL AND QUALITY ASSURANCE 
The investigator is required to keep accurate records to ensure that the conduct of the study is 
fully documented.  All participating clinicians and project staff will receive specific training as 
necessary from local physician investigators and the overall project manager before assuming 
any study-specific roles. Quality control of the study will be maintained by conference calls that 
will include all study investigators and staff. These calls will review the status of the study at 
each site, difficulties encountered with study procedures and adverse events, enrollment figures, 
retention figures, and completion and accuracy of data for each site. Additional training will be 
provided as necessary on an individual or study-wide basis. Copies of the informed consent 
document will be retained in the local study file.  
Each participating site will obtain human subjects approval. As all sites will have a review by the 
Human Subjects Protection Committee/IRB of all protocol versions, consent versions and 
adverse events reports.  The DSMB will formally review enrollment and safety biannually and as 
needed.  
 
Since some sites might include research assessments in their medical records, the confidentiality 
of this information will be specified in the consent forms. Any materials considered solely for 
research purposes will be kept in locked study files in research areas or password-protected 
databases and not included in medical records. Access to these data will be limited to study 
personnel. All investigators and project staff will maintain current human subjects training. No 
identifying information will be reported in papers or presentations; data will be reported in 
aggregate. 
 
Data will be entered locally at each site into a Web-based database using the assigned study ID, 
participant initials and date of birth. This database will incorporate the latest technology in Web-
based data entry, data validation, automatic user authentication and feedback, and security. Each 
site will maintain a separate file linking a patient’s identity to his or her study ID.  
The NHLBI is responsible for regularly reviewing the conduct of the trial, for verifying 
adherence to the protocol, and for confirming the completeness, consistency, and accuracy of all 
documented data. 
14.1 
Data Monitoring Plan  
The data will be verified by a series of computerized edit checks, and all relevant data queries 
will be resolved regularly and the site investigators will audit 10% of the medical records 
reviewed to assess data quality. All discrepancies will be reviewed, and any resulting queries will 
be resolved with the investigator and amended in the database.  All elements of data entry (i.e., 
time, date, verbatim text, and the name of the person performing the data entry) will be recorded 
in an electronic audit trail to allow all data changes in the database to be monitored and 
maintained in accordance with federal regulations. 
Some missing data are inevitable in any clinical study. The study will make every effort to 
minimize missing data through rigorous study procedures.  

 
15 
ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS AND COMPLIANCE WITH GOOD 
CLINICAL PRACTICE 
15.1 
Statement of Compliance 
This clinical study will be conducted using good clinical practice (GCP), as delineated in 
Guidance for Industry: E6 Good Clinical Practice Consolidated Guidance 1, and according to 
the criteria specified in this study protocol.  Before study initiation, the protocol and the 
informed consent documents will be reviewed and approved by an appropriate EC or IRB.  Any 
amendments to the protocol or to the consent materials must also be approved before they are 
implemented. 
15.2 
Informed Consent and Assent  
The informed consent form is a means of providing information about the trial to a prospective 
participant’s parent(s)/LAR and allows for an informed decision about participation in the study.  
All participants (or parent(s)/LAR) must read, sign, and date a consent form before entering the 
study, taking study drug, or undergoing any study-specific procedures.  Consent materials for 
participants who do not speak or read English must be translated into the participants’ 
appropriate language. 
The informed consent form must be revised whenever important new safety information is 
available, whenever the protocol is amended, and/or whenever any new information becomes 
available that may affect participation in the trial. 
A copy of the informed consent will be given to a prospective parent(s)/LAR for review.  The 
attending physician will review the consent and answer questions.  The prospective subject’s 
parent(s)/LAR will be told that being in the trial is voluntary and that he or she may withdraw 
from the study at any time, for any reason. 
15.3 
Cost to Participate 
There is no cost to participate and each site will provide financial support for participants based 
upon their IRB’s approved standard practice.  
15.4 
Privacy and Confidentiality 
A participant’s privacy and confidentiality will be respected throughout the study.  Each 
participant will be assigned a sequential identification number, and these numbers rather than 
names will be used to collect, store, and report participant information.  The log with the subject 
name and ID number will not be shared and will remain under lock and key at the individual 
sites. The data are housed in a secure data location accessible only by password and only study 
staff will be assigned access.  Each site will adhere to HIPAA rules with no exceptions.  

 
16 
PUBLICATION POLICY 
An objective of this study is to disseminate to the medical and lay communities new information 
so that evidence-based treatment strategies can be brought to bear. Our study 
leadership will develop and implement a dissemination plan that will include conventional 
publications in the medical literature, presentations, and notification of key news services for 
release of the trial results to the public. We propose the target audience to include, but not be 
limited to, pediatric cardiologists, congenital cardiac surgeons, pediatric cardiac 
anesthesiologists, pediatric cardiac intensivists, pediatric intensivists, general pediatricians, 
perfusionists, nurses, and other allied health specialists. National meetings of the AHA, Society 
of Thoracic Surgeons, American Association of Thoracic Surgeons, the ACC, the Pediatric 
Cardiac Intensive Care Society, and the American Society of Anesthesiologists are excellent 
venues for presenting clinical study results. 
 
Each publication, press release, or other document about research supported by this NIH award 
will include an acknowledgement of NIH award support and a disclaimer such as “Research 
reported in this publication was supported by the National Heart, Lung, And Blood Institute of 
the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R02HL112968.  The content is solely the 
responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National 
Institutes of Health.”  Prior to issuing a press release concerning the outcome of this research, the 
NIH will be notified to allow for coordination. 
 
 

17 
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Appendix 1.  Targeted /Planned Enrollment Table 
TARGETED/PLANNED ENROLLMENT: Number of Subjects 
Ethnic Category 
Sex/Gender 
Females Males 
Total 
Hispanic or Latino 
6 
6 
12 
Not Hispanic or Latino 
78 
100 
178 
Ethnic Category: Total of All Subjects * 
84 
106 
190 
Racial Categories 
 
American Indian/Alaska Native 
0 
0 
0 
Asian 
1 
1 
2 
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander  
0 
0 
0 
Black or African American  
38 
46 
84 
White 
46 
58 
104 
Racial Categories: Total of All Subjects * 
84 
106 
190 
* The “Ethnic Category: Total of All Subjects” must be equal to the 
“Racial Categories: Total of All Subjects.” 
 
 
 
 

Appendix 2.  Schedule of Multiplexer Studies Table 
 
Schedule of Multiplexer Studies: Inflammatory and Other Specialized Markers 
 
Assay Target 
Baseline 
(Pre-
incision, 
prior to 
study drug) 
Termination 
of CPB 
4 
hrs 
12 
hrs 
24 
hrs 
Cytokines 
 
 
 
 
 
IL-1beta 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
IL-2 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
IL-6 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
IL-8 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
IL-10 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
MCP-1 (MCAF) 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
TNFalpha 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
Matrix 
Metalloproteinases 
 
 
 
 
 
MMP-1 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
MMP-2 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
MMP-3 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
MMP-8 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
MMP-9 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
MMP-13 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
microRNAs 
 
 
 
 
 
miR-21 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
miR-133 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
miR-199a 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
miR-210 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
miR-494 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X