Clinical trial NCT01990768: Prehospital Tranexamic Acid Use for Traumatic Brain Injury
Official title: Prehospital Tranexamic Acid Use for Traumatic Brain Injury
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: PHASE2
Conditions: Traumatic Brain Injury
Keywords: tranexamic acid
traumatic brain injury
intracranial hemorrhage
prehospital
neurologic outcome
glasgow outcome scale extended
disability rating scale
Lead sponsor: University of Washington
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
name: U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command
name: Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
name: Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
name: American Heart Association
name: Defence Research and Development Canada
First posted: 2013-11-21
Enrollment: 967
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 15
Standard ages: CHILD
ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: Primary aim: To determine the efficacy of two dosing regimens of TXA initiated in the prehospital setting in patients with moderate to severe TBI (GCS score ≤12).

Primary hypothesis: The null hypothesis is that random assignment to prehospital administration of TXA in patients with moderate to severe TBI will not change the proportion of patients with a favorable long-term neurologic outcome compared to random assignment to placebo, based on the GOS-E at 6 months.

Secondary aims: To determine differences between TXA and placebo in the following outcomes for patients with moderate to severe TBI treated in the prehospital setting with 2 dosing regimens of TXA:

* Clinical outcomes: ICH progression, Marshall and Rotterdam CT classification scores, DRS at discharge and 6 months, GOS-E at discharge, 28-day survival, frequency of neurosurgical interventions, and ventilator-free, ICU-free, and hospital-free days.
* Safety outcomes: Development of seizures, cerebral ischemic events, myocardial infarction, deep venous thrombosis, and pulmonary thromboembolism.
* Mechanistic outcomes: Alterations in fibrinolysis based on fibrinolytic pathway mediators and degree of clot lysis based on TEG.

Inclusion: Blunt and penetrating traumatic mechanism consistent with TBI with prehospital GCS ≤ 12 prior to administration of sedative and/or paralytic agents, prehospital SBP ≥ 90 mmHg, prehospital intravenous (IV) access, age ≥ 15yrs (or weight ≥ 50kg if age is unknown), EMS transport destination based on standard local practices determined to be a participating trauma center.

Exclusion: Prehospital GCS=3 with no reactive pupil, estimated time from injury to start of study drug bolus dose \>2 hours, unknown time of injury, clinical suspicion by EMS of seizure activity, acute MI or stroke or known history, to the extent possible, of seizures, thromboembolic disorders or renal dialysis, CPR by EMS prior to randomization, burns \> 20% TBSA, suspected or known prisoners, suspected or known pregnancy, prehospital TXA or other pro-coagulant drug given prior to randomization, subjects who have activated the "opt-out" process when required by the local regulatory board.

A multi-center double-blind randomized controlled trial with 3 treatment arms:

* Bolus/maintenance: 1 gram IV TXA bolus in the prehospital setting followed by a 1 gram IV maintenance infusion initiated on hospital arrival and infused over 8 hours.
* Bolus only: 2 grams IV TXA bolus in the prehospital setting followed by a placebo maintenance infusion initiated on hospital arrival and infused over 8 hours.
* Placebo: Placebo IV bolus in the prehospital setting followed by a placebo maintenance infusion initiated on hospital arrival and infused over 8 hours.

Detailed description: 1. Overview This multi-center, Phase II trial is designed to determine if Tranexamic Acid (TXA) initiated in the prehospital setting improves long-term neurologic outcome compared to placebo in patients with moderate to severe TBI who are not in shock. This study protocol will be conducted as part of the Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium (ROC) at trauma centers in the United States and Canada. ROC is funded by the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) in partnership with the US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC), Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Heart \& Stroke Foundation of Canada, the American Heart Association (AHA), and the Defense Research and Development Canada. ROC is a clinical trials network focusing on research primarily in the area of prehospital cardiopulmonary arrest and severe traumatic injury. The mission of ROC is to provide infrastructure and project support for clinical trials and other outcome-oriented research in the areas of cardiopulmonary arrest and severe traumatic injury that lead to evidence-based change in clinical practice.
2. Specific Aims/Hypothesis Statement

   2.1 Clinical Hypotheses and Aims

   Specific aim 1: To compare 6-month neurologic outcome between subjects who are randomly assigned to TXA to subjects who are randomly assigned to placebo by evaluating the Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended score (GOS-E) at 6 months post-injury.

   Primary Hypotheses: We will perform a one-sided test of the following null hypothesis: The proportion of subjects who have a favorable neurologic outcome (GOS-E \> 4) at six months post injury who are randomly assigned to TXA is not different from the proportion of subjects who have a favorable neurologic outcome (GOS-E \> 4) who are randomly assigned to placebo. This hypothesis will be tested versus the alternative that the proportion of subjects with a favorable neurologic outcome who are randomly assigned to TXA is higher than in subjects who are randomly assigned to placebo at the .1 level and versus the alternative that the proportion of subjects with a favorable neurologic outcome who are randomly assigned to TXA is lower than it is in the placebo group at the .025 level

   Specific aim 2: To assess differences in morbidity and mortality measured from randomization through 28 days or initial hospital discharge and differences in neurologic outcomes at 6 months between subjects in the bolus/maintenance arm, bolus only arm, and placebo arm.

   Secondary Hypotheses: The null hypotheses are that there will be no difference between subjects who are randomly assigned to TXA and subjects who are randomly assigned to placebo in the following: both absolute and relative volume of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) progression, proportion of subjects with ICH progression, frequency of neurosurgical interventions, GOS-E measured at discharge and 6 months, Disability Rating Scale score (DRS) measured at discharge and 6 months, 28-day survival, and ventilator-free, intensive care unit (ICU)-free, and hospital-free days.

   Specific aim 3: To assess differences in adverse events measured from randomization to initial hospital discharge between subjects in the bolus/maintenance arm, bolus only arm, and placebo arm.

   Tertiary Hypotheses: The null hypotheses are that there will be no difference between subjects who are randomly assigned to TXA and subjects who are randomly assigned to placebo in the following: proportion of subjects experiencing seizures, cerebral ischemic events, myocardial infarction (MI), deep venous thrombosis (DVT), or pulmonary thromboembolism (PE) post randomization through 28 days or discharge, whichever occurs first.

   2.2 Laboratory Hypotheses and Aims

   Specific aim 1: To compare coagulation profiles over time using kaolin activated thrombelastography (TEG) results between subjects who are randomly assigned to TXA and subjects who are randomly assigned to placebo.

   Primary hypothesis: The null hypothesis is that there will be no difference in the degree of fibrinolysis as assessed by percentage of clot lysis determined 30 minutes after the maximum amplitude is reached (LY30) between subjects who are randomly assigned to TXA and subjects who are randomly assigned to placebo.

   Specific aim 2: To explore the underlying mechanism of TXA by comparing fibrinolytic pathway mediator activity between subjects who are randomly assigned to TXA and subjects who are randomly assigned to placebo.

   Secondary hypothesis: The null hypothesis is that there will be no change in fibrinolytic pathway mediators between subjects who are randomly assigned to TXA and subjects who are randomly assigned to placebo.

   Specific aim 3: To estimate the association between the degree of fibrinolysis based on kaolin activated TEG results and fibrinolytic pathway mediators on primary and secondary clinical outcomes.

   Tertiary hypothesis: The null hypothesis is that no association will exist between the degree of fibrinolysis and fibrinolytic pathway mediators and primary and secondary clinical outcomes.
3. Study Enrollment

   EMS agencies will carry blinded sealed study drug kits. Once the seal is broken in the presence of the patient, the patient is randomized. The EMS study drug kit will contain a vial of either 1 gram TXA, 2 grams TXA, or placebo. EMS will mix the study drug in a 250 mL bag of 0.9% sodium chloride and administer the bolus infusion as soon as life-saving interventions are performed. After randomization, EMS will provide the study drug kit ID# to the receiving pharmacy. The hospital pharmacist will obtain the randomization assignment from the coordinating center and prepare the appropriate drug to be administered in the hospital.
4. Sample Size and Statistical Analysis

   The total sample size is 963 (321 per group) starting treatment, which will allow for 80% power to detect a 7.1% absolute difference in favorable long-term neurological outcome as determined by the GOS-E 6 months after injury comparing the combined TXA treatment groups to placebo, using a one-sided, level 0.1 test.

   Statistical analysis of primary hypothesis: Modified intention-to-treat analysis using logistic regression to test for association and estimate the strength of the association of treatment group with a favorable 6-month outcome (defined as a GOS-E \> 4), after adjustment for study site.
5. Human subjects protection

This study qualifies for the exception from informed consent (EFIC) required for emergency research outlined in FDA regulation 21CFR50.24. EFIC applies because of life-threatening situation, intervention must be administered before consent is feasible, no reasonable way to identify prospectively individuals at risk, patients have the prospect of benefit from the treatment, and the research could not practically be carried out without the waiver of consent.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

1. Blunt or penetrating traumatic mechanism consistent with traumatic brain injury
2. Prehospital Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) score ≤ 12 at any time prior to randomization and administration of sedative and/or paralytic agents
3. Prehospital systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥ 90 mmHg prior to randomization
4. Prehospital intravenous (IV) or intraosseous (IO) access
5. Estimated Age ≥ 15 (or estimated weight \> 50 kg if age is unknown)
6. Emergency Medicine System (EMS) transport to a participating trauma center

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Prehospital GCS=3 with no reactive pupil
2. Estimated time from injury to hospital arrival \> 2 hours
3. Unknown time of injury - no known reference times to support estimation
4. Clinical suspicion by EMS of seizure activity or known history of seizures, acute myocardial infarction (MI) or stroke
5. Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) by EMS prior to randomization
6. Burns \> 20% total body surface area (TBSA)
7. Suspected or known prisoners
8. Suspected or known pregnancy
9. Prehospital TXA given prior to randomization
10. Subjects who have activated the "opt-out" process when required by the local regulatory board

Primary outcomes:
measure: Dichotomized Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended (GOS-E) at 6 Months
timeFrame: 6 months post-injury
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Number of Participants Who Died Within 28 Days
timeFrame: 28 days after hospital arrival
measure: Disability Rating Scale (DRS) at 6 Months
timeFrame: 6 months post-injury
measure: Number of Participants With Unfavorable Outcome on Dichotomized Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended (GOS-E) at Discharge
timeFrame: At the end of the hospital stay (average of 9 days post injury)
measure: Disability Rating Scale (DRS) at Discharge
timeFrame: At the end of the hospital stay (average of 9 days post injury)
measure: Number of Participants With Intracranial Hemorrhage (ICH) Progression
timeFrame: From hospital admission through 28 days or the end of the hospital stay if sooner (average of 13 days among patients with multiple scans)
measure: Marshall Computed Tomography (CT) Score on Initial Head CT
timeFrame: Initial head CT (average of 1.9 hours post-injury)
measure: Rotterdam Computed Tomography (CT) Score Among Subjects With Intracranial Hemorrhage (ICH) on Initial Head CT
timeFrame: Initial head CT (average of 1.9 hours post-injury)
measure: Number of Participants With One or More Neurosurgical Interventions
timeFrame: From hospital admission through 28 days or the end of the hospital stay if sooner (average of 9 days)
measure: Hospital-free Days
timeFrame: From hospital admission through day 28
measure: Intensive Care Unit (ICU)-Free Days
timeFrame: From hospital admission through day 28
measure: Ventilator-free Days
timeFrame: From hospital admission through day 28
measure: Number of Participants With Seizure
timeFrame: From start of study drug infusion through 28 days or the end of the hospital stay if sooner (average of 9 days)
measure: Number of Participants With Cerebral Ischemic Event
timeFrame: From hospital admission through 28 days or the end of the hospital stay if sooner (average of 9 days)
measure: Number of Participants With Myocardial Infarction (MI)
timeFrame: From hospital admission through 28 days or the end of the hospital stay if sooner (average of 9 days)
measure: Number of Participants With Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
timeFrame: From hospital admission through 28 days or the end of the hospital stay if sooner (average of 9 days)
measure: Number of Participants With Pulmonary Embolus (PE)
timeFrame: From hospital admission through 28 days or the end of the hospital stay if sooner (average of 9 days)
measure: Number of Participants With Any Thromboembolic Event
timeFrame: From hospital admission through 28 days or the end of the hospital stay if sooner (average of 9 days)
Other outcomes:
measure: Fibrinolysis at Hospital Admission
timeFrame: First blood draw (average of 1.6 hours post-injury)
Locations:
city: Birmingham
country: United States
facility: Alabama Resuscitation Center
state: Alabama
city: Minneapolis
country: United States
facility: Hennepin County Medical Center
state: Minnesota
city: Rochester
country: United States
facility: Mayo Clinic Rochester
state: Minnesota
city: Saint Paul
country: United States
facility: St Paul Regions Hospital
state: Minnesota
city: Cincinnati
country: United States
facility: University of Cincinnati Medical Center
state: Ohio
city: Portland
country: United States
facility: Oregon Health & Sciences University
state: Oregon
city: Dallas
country: United States
facility: Dallas Center for Resuscitation Research
state: Texas
city: Houston
country: United States
facility: Memorial Hermann Hospital - Texas Medical Center
state: Texas
city: Seattle
country: United States
facility: Harborview Medical Center
state: Washington
city: Milwaukee
country: United States
facility: Milwaukee Resuscitation Research Center
state: Wisconsin
city: Vancouver
country: Canada
facility: British Columbia Regional Coordinating Center
state: British Columbia
city: Toronto
country: Canada
facility: Toronto RescuNet
state: Ontario
Study officials:
affiliation: University of Washington
name: Susanne May, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
affiliation: Oregon Health and Science University
name: Martin Schreiber, MD FACS
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Harmer JW, Dewey EN, Meier EN, Rowell SE, Schreiber MA. Tranexamic acid is not inferior to placebo with respect to adverse events in suspected traumatic brain injury patients not in shock with a normal head computed tomography scan: A retrospective study of a randomized trial. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2022 Jul 1;93(1):98-105. doi: 10.1097/TA.0000000000003635. Epub 2022 Mar 28.
citation: Rowell SE, Meier EN, McKnight B, Kannas D, May S, Sheehan K, Bulger EM, Idris AH, Christenson J, Morrison LJ, Frascone RJ, Bosarge PL, Colella MR, Johannigman J, Cotton BA, Callum J, McMullan J, Dries DJ, Tibbs B, Richmond NJ, Weisfeldt ML, Tallon JM, Garrett JS, Zielinski MD, Aufderheide TP, Gandhi RR, Schlamp R, Robinson BRH, Jui J, Klein L, Rizoli S, Gamber M, Fleming M, Hwang J, Vincent LE, Williams C, Hendrickson A, Simonson R, Klotz P, Sopko G, Witham W, Ferrara M, Schreiber MA. Effect of Out-of-Hospital Tranexamic Acid vs Placebo on 6-Month Functional Neurologic Outcomes in Patients With Moderate or Severe Traumatic Brain Injury. JAMA. 2020 Sep 8;324(10):961-974. doi: 10.1001/jama.2020.8958.