Valproic AcId for Traumatic BRAin INjury Trial

Trial statusNot yet recruiting
Trial phasePhase 2, Phase 3
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18-65
SponsorNorthwestern University

About this trial

The long-term goal of the clinical trial is to develop effective, safe, and easily administered life-saving treatments for patients with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Patients with moderate to severe TBI will randomly receive either:

1. Standard of care treatment and normal saline 2. Standard of care treatment and one dose of valproic acid (VPA) at a lower dose or a higher dose

Eligibility criteria

This trial does not accept healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

Male or female between the ages of 18 and 65 years.

Body Mass Index between 18 kg/m2 and 35 kg/m2.

Females must be surgically sterilized, postmenopausal, or have a negative urine pregnancy test.

Moderate to severe TBI: Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) 3-12.

Disqualifiers

Persons with known history of adverse reactions to VPA

Persons with known history of hepatitis B or C or clinical history of hepatic dysfunction, pancreatitis, or renal insufficiency.

Persons with a known history of thrombocytopenia.

Persons with platelet count less than 100,000 per microliter of blood.

Trial design

Design model

Parallel

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Valproic Acid (VPA)

    Drug

    VPA (in 250 ml 0.9% sodium chloride solution)

  • Standard of care treatment + normal saline

    Other intervention

    Standard of care treatment + normal saline (0.9% sodium chloride solution) vehicle (250 ml)

Treatment groups

432 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groups
Group A: ControlPlacebo comparator 1 intervention
Group B: ExperimentalExperimental treatment 1 intervention

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

1

Extended Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS-E)

Scoring values range from 1 to 8 with higher scores representing a better outcome. 1 indicates death, 2 indicates a vegetative state, 3 or 4 indicates severe disability, 5 or 6 indicates moderate disability, and 7 or 8 indicates good recovery.

Time frame
3 months post-injury

Secondary outcomes

1

Hemorrhagic progression of the contusion (HPC)

We will quantify HPC as the change in volume of the largest contiguous brain lesion in mm. This will be measured through a comparison of the initial and the follow-up CT scan.

Time frame
First 24 hours post-injury as measured by a CT scan
2

Disability Rating Score (DRS)

This scale includes eight categories: A. Eye opening (0-5), B. Communication ability (0-4), C. Motor response (0-5), D. Feeding - cognitive ability only (0-3), E. Toileting - cognitive ability only (0-3), F. Grooming - cognitive ability only (0-3), G. Level of functioning - physical, mental, emotional or social function (0-5) and H. "Employability" - a full time worker, homemaker, or student (0-3). Higher scores in each category mean a worse outcome.

Time frame
Discharge or day 7 and 3 months post-injury

Other outcomes

1

Disability Rating Score (DRS)

This scale includes eight categories: A. Eye opening (0-5), B. Communication ability (0-4), C. Motor response (0-5), D. Feeding - cognitive ability only (0-3), E. Toileting - cognitive ability only (0-3), F. Grooming - cognitive ability only (0-3), G. Level of functioning - physical, mental, emotional or social function (0-5) and H. "Employability" - a full time worker, homemaker, or student (0-3). Higher scores in each category mean a worse outcome.

Time frame
6 months post-injury
2

Extended Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS-E)

Scoring values range from 1 to 8 with higher scores representing a better outcome. 1 indicates death, 2 indicates a vegetative state, 3 or 4 indicates severe disability, 5 or 6 indicates moderate disability, and 7 or 8 indicates good recovery.

Time frame
6 months post injury
3

Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)

Evaluates three behavior responses: eye opening, best verbal and best motor. The following scoring is associated with responses: Eye opening response - Spontaneously 4, To speech 3, To pain 2 and No response 1; Best verbal - Oriented to time/place/person 5, Confused 4, Inappropriate words 3, Incomprehensible sounds 2 and No response 1; and Best motor response - Obeys commands 6, Moves to localized pain 5, Flexion withdrawal from pain 4, Abnormal flexion 3, Abnormal extension 2 and No response 1. The scoring is totaled with higher values associated with better response. Total Score: Best response=15, Comatose client=8 or less, and Totally unresponsive=3.

Time frame
24 hours post-injury

Sponsors and contacts

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Northwestern University

Lead sponsor

United States Department of Defense

Collaborator

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