IVIG in Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Pilot Study (IVIG/AIS)
Ischemic Stroke
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Ischemic Stroke focused on measuring IVIg, Acute Ischemic Stroke, Stroke, CVA, Cerebrovascular Accident
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Onset of neurological symptoms between 4.5 and 8 hours
- Male or Female age 45 -75 years old
- Score of 10-15 points on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) with clinical signs suggestive of ischemic stroke
- Acute brain ischemia with a distinct penumbra (at least 20%), measured by magnetic resonance perfusion imaging (PI) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), in the territory of the middle cerebral artery, anterior cerebral artery, or posterior cerebral artery with a hemispheric distribution
- Ability and willingness to provide informed consent and comply with study requirements and procedures
Exclusion Criteria:
- Eligibility for acute thrombolytic (rtPA) treatment
- Normal brain MRI
- Transient ischemic attack or rapidly improving neurological symptoms
- Previous disability
- Hemorrhagic stroke on brain MRI (T2*/SWI)
- Ongoing infection defined by clinical and laboratory signs: an evidence-based guideline will be followed to detect infectious complications (in short, physical and laboratory measures including WBC, ESR, hsCRP, PCT, fever, abnormal urine, chest X-ray or positive cultures)
- Diagnosis of malignancy
- Known sensitivity to any ingredients in the study drug or radiological contrast material
- Participation in another clinical trial within the past 30 days
- Stroke in the previous 3 months
- Chronic liver, kidney or hematological disease
- Contraindications to MRI -Brain aneurysm clip, implanted neural stimulator, implanted cardiac pacemaker or defibrillator, cochlear implant, ocular foreign body e.g. metal shavings, other implanted medical devices: (e.g. Swan Ganz catheter) insulin pump, metal shrapnel or bullet.
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Females who are pregnant or breastfeeding
Sites / Locations
- Inova Health Systems; Inova Fairfax Hospital
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Placebo Comparator
Privigen
Normal Saline
The IVIG preparation to be used is 10% liquid (Privigen). IVIG will be applied at a dose of 1.0g/kg, which is approximately 1/2 of the optimal dose used for other immuno/inflammatory indications. The infusion will start at 0.5 ml/kg/hr for the first 30 minutes, to watch for the signs of hypersensitivity to immunoglobulins, and then increased to 2.5 ml/kg/hr, two times slower than the recommended rate indicated in the product package insert (5 ml/kg/hr). Such a low, single dose has not been associated with hyperviscosity and together with a slow infusion will safeguard against occurrence of adverse events related to IVIG infusions. They will receive a total of 1g/kg and depending on patient's weight, it will take between 3.5 to 4+ hours to infuse that amount.
The placebo is the normal saline. Since saline solution will be infused at the volume equivalent to that in which the intended dose of immunoglobulin molecules will be delivered, the placebo (comparator) arm will also serve as a control for the volume of fluid infused to the treatment arm participants.