Magnesium Sulfate For Brain Injury

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of the study is to determine whether magnesium sulfate, given within 8 hours of a moderate or severe traumatic brain injury improves survival, decreases the number of people developing seizures, improves the survivors' mental and psychological functioning, including the ability to return to daily life, live independently, and return to work or school.

Detailed Description
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The purpose of the study is to determine if treating head-injured patients with magnesium sulfate will improve medical, mental, and psychological recovery. In particular, the study will assess each patient's ability to return to daily life, live independently, and return to work or school as done before the head injury occurred. The study will also assess magnesium sulfate's ability to reduce the risk of developing seizures (epilepsy) as well as to improve survival rates after a traumatic brain injury. Patients on the study are assigned randomly (by chance) to either the magnesium sulfate group or the group which gets a placebo. This means they have an equal chance of being in either group. Before the first dose is given, two teaspoons worth of blood are drawn from a vein in the arm. The first dose of magnesium sulfate is 1meq/kg given intravenously within 8 hours of injury. Then a five day continuous intravenous infusion of magnesium sulfate 0.24meq/kg per hour is begun. Daily magnesium levels are checked and the dose changed in order to keep the Magnesium blood level at approximately 4meq/L. If the person does not receive magnesium sulfate, he receives a placebo which looks just like magnesium sulfate but contains no active medication. If the person leaves the hospital before the five days are over, the magnesium or placebo is stopped. Patients on the study will receive a brief exam in person or over the phone at one and three months after the injury to determine whether they have had any seizures and to evaluate how they are functioning and recovering from their head injury. Each evaluation will last about one hour. At six months after the injury, they will have full neuropsychological and psychosocial evaluations done at Harborview. These tests will take about five hours to complete and include tests of vocabulary, problem solving, and coordination. There will be questions about how the injury has affected the way they feel and interact socially. For example, there will be questions about their ability to work, manage personal affairs, what their moods are like, and how anger is handled.

Official Title
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Magnesium Sulfate for Neuroprotection After Brain Trauma

Conditions
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Brain Injuries, Head Injury, Brain Concussion

Intervention / Treatment
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* Drug: magnesium sulfate


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Traumatic brain injury with post-resuscitation Glasgow Coma Scale of 3-12 or, if intubated, motor score of 1-5, or who require emergent neurosurgical intervention precluding the accurate assessment of Glasgow Coma Scale. Exclusion Criteria: Injury greater than 8 hours old Age under 14 years Compromised renal function (creatinine of 2.0 mb/dl or greater) Membership in a vulnerable population (e.g. pregnant woman, prisoner, etc.) Residence making follow-up unlikely (e.g. lives outside U.S.) Refusal to participate

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 14 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Intervention/Treatment |
| --- |
|Drug: magnesium sulfate|nan|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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head injury, traumatic brain injury, concussion, magnesium sulfate, neuroprotection