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. 2019 Jun 27;19(1):210.
doi: 10.1186/s12887-019-1566-8.

Effect of allopurinol in addition to hypothermia treatment in neonates for hypoxic-ischemic brain injury on neurocognitive outcome (ALBINO): study protocol of a blinded randomized placebo-controlled parallel group multicenter trial for superiority (phase III)

Christian A Maiwald  1   2 , Kim V Annink  3 , Mario Rüdiger  4 , Manon J N L Benders  3 , Frank van Bel  3 , Karel Allegaert  5 , Gunnar Naulaers  5 , Dirk Bassler  6 , Katrin Klebermaß-Schrehof  7 , Maximo Vento  8 , Hercilia Guimarães  9 , Tom Stiris  10 , Luigi Cattarossi  11 , Marjo Metsäranta  12 , Sampsa Vanhatalo  12 , Jan Mazela  13 , Tuuli Metsvaht  14 , Yannique Jacobs  15 , Axel R Franz  16   17 ; ALBINO Study Group
Collaborators, Affiliations

Effect of allopurinol in addition to hypothermia treatment in neonates for hypoxic-ischemic brain injury on neurocognitive outcome (ALBINO): study protocol of a blinded randomized placebo-controlled parallel group multicenter trial for superiority (phase III)

Christian A Maiwald et al. BMC Pediatr. .

Abstract

Background: Perinatal asphyxia and resulting hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy is a major cause of death and long-term disability in term born neonates. Up to 20,000 infants each year are affected by HIE in Europe and even more in regions with lower level of perinatal care. The only established therapy to improve outcome in these infants is therapeutic hypothermia. Allopurinol is a xanthine oxidase inhibitor that reduces the production of oxygen radicals as superoxide, which contributes to secondary energy failure and apoptosis in neurons and glial cells after reperfusion of hypoxic brain tissue and may further improve outcome if administered in addition to therapeutic hypothermia.

Methods: This study on the effects of ALlopurinol in addition to hypothermia treatment for hypoxic-ischemic Brain Injury on Neurocognitive Outcome (ALBINO), is a European double-blinded randomized placebo-controlled parallel group multicenter trial (Phase III) to evaluate the effect of postnatal allopurinol administered in addition to standard of care (including therapeutic hypothermia if indicated) on the incidence of death and severe neurodevelopmental impairment at 24 months of age in newborns with perinatal hypoxic-ischemic insult and signs of potentially evolving encephalopathy. Allopurinol or placebo will be given in addition to therapeutic hypothermia (where indicated) to infants with a gestational age ≥ 36 weeks and a birth weight ≥ 2500 g, with severe perinatal asphyxia and potentially evolving encephalopathy. The primary endpoint of this study will be death or severe neurodevelopmental impairment versus survival without severe neurodevelopmental impairment at the age of two years. Effects on brain injury by magnetic resonance imaging and cerebral ultrasound, electric brain activity, concentrations of peroxidation products and S100B, will also be studied along with effects on heart function and pharmacokinetics of allopurinol after iv-infusion.

Discussion: This trial will provide data to assess the efficacy and safety of early postnatal allopurinol in term infants with evolving hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. If proven efficacious and safe, allopurinol could become part of a neuroprotective pharmacological treatment strategy in addition to therapeutic hypothermia in children with perinatal asphyxia.

Trial registration: NCT03162653, www.ClinicalTrials.gov , May 22, 2017.

Keywords: Allopurinol; Brain injury; Cerebral palsy; Childbirth outcome; Hypothermia therapy; Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy; Neonatal oxygen deficiency; Perinatal asphyxia.

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Conflict of interest statement

Y. Jacobs and R. van der Vlught-Meijer are employees of ACE Pharmaceuticals, the company that holds the Dutch marketing authorization registration for Acepurin® (allopurinol 1 g/100 ml) for intravenous application for treatment of gout. C. van Veldhuizen and B. Laméris are the former owners of ACE Pharmaceuticals. All four contributed to the development of the study protocol. All other contributors declare that they do not have competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Study interventions in ALBINO
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Anticipated Trial Flow
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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