Active clinical trials for "Subarachnoid Hemorrhage"

In aSAH high levels of IL-6 (a pro-inflammatory cytokine) in the cerebrospinal fluid, as well as systemically have been linked to the severity grade and the occurrence of vasospasm and delayed cerebral ischemia caused by vasospasm as well as worse outcome independent of severity grade at time of admission and age. Increased levels of IL-6 increase the probability of unfavourable outcome, as well as the occurrence of delayed ischemic neurological deficit. CytoSorb is an available, and certified medical device intended for use in conditions where elevated levels of cytokines such as IL-6 exist. Its clinical effect lies in the reduction of levels of pro-inflammatory mediators and thereby improving organ function as well as improving hemodynamic stability within hours of treatment initiation. Currently it is primarily used for the treatment of patients with confirmed or imminent respiratory failure who have either an acute lung injury, or acute respiratory distress syndrome, or a severe disease incl. respiratory failure, septic shock, and or multiple organ dysfunction/failure. Until now, effective IL-6 removal in patients suffering from aSAH has not been possible in human and thus has not yet been evaluated. The purpose of this study is to see whether removal of IL-6 in patients with aSAH using CytoSorb is possible, and whether this alters the clinical course. The overall goal of this study is to investigate whether a treatment with CytoSorb removes Interleukin 6 in patients with aSAH, and whether the treatment with CytoSorb alters the clinical course.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of adding Milrinone to the current standard treatment for cerebral vasospasm.

This study compares the bioavailability of IV and PO acetaminophen in both blood and the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients following subarachnoid hemorrhage. The study will also compare the temperature and levels of inflammatory cytokines in both blood and CSF of patients treated with IV and PO acetaminophen.

The proposed study was set up to evaluate the tolerability and safety of 25% human albumin (HA) therapy in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). It is estimated that 37,500 people in the USA have SAH every year. SAH is associated with a 51% mortality rate and one third of survivors are left functionally dependent. Cerebral vasospasm (CV) has been identified as the most important reason for neurological deterioration. CV may be due to multiple molecular mechanisms. The use of a neuroprotective agent with various actions, likes HA, would be important for prevention of CV and improved clinical outcome in patients with SAH. The proposed open-label, dose-escalation study will have important public health implications by providing necessary information for a definitive phase III clinical trial regarding the efficacy of treatment with HA in patients with SAH. The study was to enroll a maximum of 80 patients with SAH who meet the eligibility criteria. Four dosages of HA (0.625, 1.25, 1.875, and 2.5 g/kg) administered daily for seven days will be evaluated. The lowest dosage was to be evaluated in the first group of 20 subjects. A specific safety threshold was defined based on data from previous studies. The Data and Safety Monitoring Board approved or disapproved advancing to the next higher HA dosage based on the evaluation of the rate of congestive heart failure (CHF). The study assessed three outcomes: safety and tolerability of the HA dosages and the functional outcome. The primary tolerability outcome was defined as the subject's ability to receive the full allocated dose of HA without incurring frank CHF that requires termination of treatment. Secondary safety outcomes were serious adverse events (including neurological and medical complications, and anaphylactic reactions). Neurological complications comprise incidence of CV, rebleeding, hydrocephalus, and seizures after treatment. The three-month functional outcome determined, by Glasgow Outcome Scale, Barthel Index, modified Rankin Scale, NIH Stroke Scale and Stroke Impact Scale was measured to obtain a preliminary estimate of the treatment effect of HA. The timeline of the study is three years.

The objective of this multi-centre, randomized controlled trial is to investigate the outcome after induced hypertension versus no induced hypertension in patients with delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and to assess whether induced hypertension results in improved cerebral blood flow (CBF) as measured by means of perfusion-CT.

The hypothesis is that intravenous infusion of sodium nitrite is safe and effective for the reversal of cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage in patients with a cerebral aneurysm.

Introduction Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is bleeding around the under surface of the brain caused by rupture of an aneurysm arising from a blood vessel. Stroke may occur in approximately one third of patients as a result of narrowing of the blood vessels around the brain, following aSAH. One theory as to why this may happen is because bleeding around the base of the brain damages particular cells (neurons) that control blood flow around the rest of the brain. These neurons may control blood flow by releasing a neurotransmitter called Acetyl Choline (ACh). Our hypothesis is that damage to these neurons may prevent the production of ACh, which then causes reduced blood flow and stroke if left untreated. By stimulating these neurons, we aim to investigate whether it is possible to improve the blood flow around brain and ultimately prevent strokes in patients following subarachnoid haemorrhage. Donepezil, a drug widely used in dementia, inhibits the brain's natural break down of ACh. We predict that by increasing the amount of Ach in these neurons, donepezil may improve blood flow to the brain, reducing the chance of developing stroke. Trial Protocol All patients admitted to St George's hospital with a confirmed aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage between the ages of 18 and 85 years old will be invited to participate in the trial. The protocol has been designed to take place around the patients' aneurysm treatment, which is performed under general anesthesia (GA). Recruited participants will be anesthetized for their aneurysm treatment and then enter the study. All trial participants will have a Xenon CT scan under GA to assess brain blood flow prior to having treatment of their aneurysm. Patients randomized to donepezil treatment will receive a loading dose of 20mg via a feeding tube immediately after their Xenon scan. Patients in the control group will not receive the drug. All patients in the trial will undergo repeat Xenon perfusion scanning under GA between 3 and 4 hours after their first scan, which coincides with the completion of their aneurysm treatment. Those in the donepezil group will then receive a daily dose of 5 mg for a period of 21 days. All aspects of care other than those related to the trial will be the same as for any other subarachnoid haemorrhage patients. Patients (or their legal representative for those unable to consent) will be able to decline participation in the trial or withdraw at any point.

The study aim is to determine if periodic online cognitive exercises (Lumosity) improve memory function in ruptured cerebral aneurysm patients with disabling baseline memory deficits within the first 24 months after rupture. Half of the subjects will be randomized to use Lumosity-designed online cognitive exercises and half will serve as an active control group performing online crossword puzzles.

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (bleeding on the brain due to a ruptured aneurysm) is a serious condition with a high morbidity (incidence of having ill health) and mortality (death). There are approximately 11 cases per 100,000 in the population per year, and approximately 40% of these cases are fatal. (Ingall) Among the fortunate subjects who survive the initial bleed, vasospasm and subsequent stroke are a major cause of morbidity. Vasospasm is defined as a prolonged severe, although reversible cause of arterial narrowing that occurs after bleeding into the subarachnoid space, most commonly after aneurysmal rupture. (Youman) The reduced arterial diameter inhibits blood flow and deprives the brain of oxygen, which often results in a stroke. Vasospasm is a major problem when treating subjects with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. For these reasons, it is essential to diagnose cerebral vasospasm early, before permanent deficits develop. There may be another option to solve this dilemma. The field of neuro-monitoring (neurological monitoring) has the technology available to continuously monitor brain activity of these sedated ICU subjects. This may allow for early diagnosis and possibly identify changes in neurologic function before they become symptomatic. In the past, neuro-monitoring was primarily used in the operating room to monitor neurologic function during surgery in and around the spinal cord. Surgery to the spine or spinal cord also carries its own form of risk, either from mechanical trauma to the spinal cord or its nerve roots, or from interruption of the blood supply to these structures. Should damage to nerve fibers occur, the end result could be paralysis, loss of sensation, and onset of severe burning (i.e. neuropathic) pain. The field of intraoperative neuro-monitoring (IOM) was developed to address these risks during spine surgery, whereby nerves rostral (toward the head) or caudal (toward the feet) to the site of surgery are stimulated (usually via electrical pulses) and signals are recorded from the side opposite to the site of stimulation. Thus, the signals carried by nerve fibers are forced to pass through the region at risk from the surgery. In the event that changes in nerve responses are seen, the surgical team is notified, and they can change what they're doing to try and restore signals, thereby preserving function in the nerve fibers. This same technology has been used in the neurosurgical ICU to monitor subjects with severe brain injury from trauma, stroke, intracranial hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage. Using continuous electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring combined with somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) (a type of neuro monitoring) has been used to determine prognosis, identify subjects in subclinical status epilepticus (state of brain being in a constant seizure), predict elevations in the intracranial pressure Increased pressure within the skull), and diagnose cerebral hypoxia (not enough oxygen in the brain) (Amantini)

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the tolerability and safety of 25 percent human albumin therapy in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage.