Safety Study of External Counterpulsation as a Treatment for Acute Ischemic Stroke

Phase 1

Completed

Conditions: Stroke

Interventions: Device: Full-pressure ECP
Device: Sham-pressure ECP

Registration Number: NCT00983749

Lead Sponsor: University of California, San Diego

Brief Summary: The purpose of this study is to determine if external counterpulsation (ECP) is feasible to perform, tolerable, and safe as a treatment for patients with acute ischemic stroke (i.e., a blockage of one of the arteries supplying a part of the brain), and to assess what type of effect it might have on 1) the velocity of blood flow in the arteries supplying the brain and 2) stroke symptoms. The hypothesis of the study is that ECP will be feasible and safe to perform, and will be tolerable for patients with acute ischemic stroke at pressures that increase the velocity of arterial blood flow to the brain.

Detailed Description: A stroke is usually caused by a blockage of one of the arteries that carries blood to the brain. Sometimes with a stroke, there may be a small amount of blood flow that manages to get through or around the blockage, and it may be possible that the amount of damage from a stroke may be reduced by increasing this blood flow. External counterpulsation (ECP) is a procedure in which a machine uses electrical signals from the heart that are detectable on the surface of the body in order to time the inflation of cuffs (similar to a blood pressure cuff) that are wrapped around a patient's legs (calves, thighs and buttocks). Using a reading of the electrical activity from the patient's heart (an electrocardiogram, or ECG, monitor), the machine inflates the cuffs with air at just the right time during each heart beat, during diastole, in order to change the blood pressure in a way that has been shown to increase blood flow to the kidneys, skin, eyes, heart, and brain.

In this study, patients presenting within the first 48 hours of an acute ischemic stroke (i.e., a blockage of one of the arteries supplying a part of the brain) will be randomly assigned to either of (1) a 1-hour treatment of external counterpulsation (ECP) applied at a pressure that is typically therapeutic, or (2) a 1-hour treatment of ECP at a minimal pressure in a control group. ECP-induced changes in brain artery flow velocity will be assessed with an ultrasound prior to and then during ECP in each group, and an optimal pressure that results in an augmentation of flow velocity will be determined. A neurological exam will be performed prior to, during, and after ECP in each group, in order to assess any changes in stroke symptoms related to ECP. Patients will be followed to 30 days. The main goal of this trial is to evaluate if ECP is safe and feasible to use as a treatment for stroke. In addition, the trial will enable an assessment of whether or not ECP increases blood flow to the brain or affects the neurological symptoms of a patient with a stroke.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: COMPLETED

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 23

Inclusion Criteria

Adults between the ages of 18 and 85, inclusive
Symptoms consistent with acute ischemic stroke, with a measurable neurological deficit at presentation
Ability to initiate external counterpulsation within 48 hours of stroke onset
No evidence of hemorrhage on CT scan or MRI
MCA distribution stroke: a total or partial anterior circulation infarct (TACI or PACI by Oxfordshire criteria) consistent with MCA distribution ischemia, or a lacunar stroke felt by the investigator to possibly involve a deep perforating branch in the MCA territory (LACI by Oxfordshire criteria)

Exclusion Criteria

Rapidly resolving stroke symptoms consistent with a transient ischemic attack
Severe stroke defined as an NIHSS > 22
Intracranial hemorrhage (SAH, EDH, SDH, IPH, hemorrhagic conversion) on CT scan
Brain tumor or brain abscess on CT scan or MRI
Presentation consistent with subarachnoid hemorrhage (such as a sudden, severe thunderclap headache, or an associated third nerve palsy)
History of cerebral aneurysm, AVM, or hemorrhagic stroke
Either treatment or planned treatment of current stroke with standard thrombolytic therapy (intravenous or intra-arterial) or neurothrombectomy
History of lower limb amputation above the ankle
History of untreated aortic dissection
History or suspicion of thoracic or abdominal aortic aneurysm
Known significant anomaly of the heart, aorta, or great vessels that would be complicated by elevated diastolic pressures.
BP > 180/100 that remains so after minimal treatment (such as one or two doses of an antihypertensive agent, or as determined by the investigator)
History of non-trivial aortic regurgitation, or any symptomatic valvular heart disease determined by the investigator to be at risk of worsening on ECP
Significant symptomatic congestive heart failure (orthopnea, CHF-related dyspnea, or rales and jugular venous distention on exam) or a left ventricular ejection fraction known to be <30%
Diagnosis of significant lower extremity peripheral vascular occlusive disease (PVOD), or symptomatic PVOD as determined by the investigator (especially symptoms of claudication)
Phlebitis, stasis ulcer, severe varicosities
Diagnosis of DVT within the past month, or current symptoms strongly suggestive of new DVT, such as asymmetric calf or leg swelling, discomfort, or erythema (to be evaluated by screening duplex)
Pacemaker or automated implanted defibrillator (AICD)
A cardiac dysrhythmia (such as atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter, or frequent premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) or premature atrial contractions (PACs) as determined by the investigator) that would interfere with ECP triggering
Pregnancy (as determined by a urine pregnancy test in females of child-bearing age)
Known coagulopathy, thrombocytopenia with platelet count < 100,000, or taking warfarin with an INR > 2.0.
History positive for chronic low back pain, radiculopathy suggestive of herniated lumbar disc, or related surgery
Known collagen vascular disease
Obesity to a degree (as determined by the investigator) that would prevent proper placement and/or activation of counterpulsation cuffs
Any psychological, social, or legal condition that would interfere with the ability of the patient or his or her surrogate to give Informed Consent and/or his or her capacity to comply with all study requirements, including the necessary time commitment
An inadequate temporal window for TCD insonation.
Currently involved or have been involved in a clinical trial within the last 30 days.

Study & Design

Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Full-pressure ECP	Full-pressure ECP	Patients in the "Full-pressure ECP" arm receive a 1-hour treatment of ECP at full pressure, which will be applied in a tiered, dose-escalating manner up to 300mmHg, while assessments are made.
Sham-pressure ECP	Sham-pressure ECP	A 1-hour treatment of ECP at an inactive pressure (75mmHg)

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Feasibility and Tolerability of External Counterpulsation	During one hour of treatment	The first primary outcome measure was tolerability and feasibility. Tolerance was defined as the absence of any indications to stop the procedure or reduce the pressure to a non-therapeutic level. Feasibility was defined in the full-pressure group as the sustained (at least 30 minutes) tolerance of any pressure capable of causing a 15% augmentation of MFV in 90% of subjects, and defined in the sham-pressure group as the sustained tolerance of the sham pressure in all subjects.
Safety (Including Endpoints Such an Increase NIHSS During or Immediately After ECP, and Acute Hemorrhage on Repeating Imaging, Serious Adverse Events Related to ECP, Mortality)	30 days	Safety was evaluated by the incidence of serious adverse events (SAEs) or acute neurological deterioration in relation to the study device and/or procedures at 30 days, the incidence of acute symptomatic hemorrhage on repeat imaging at 24 hours, the incidence of all adverse events (AEs) in the first 48 hours, and mortality at 30 days. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) is a stroke severity scale, based on examination, that goes from 0 (no deficit) to a maximum of 42. Acute neurological deterioration - which was captured as a serious adverse event - was defined as a ≥4-point increase on the NIHSS, or a ≥2-point decline in level of consciousness item 1a on the NIHSS, or a new neurological deficit, or clinically significant worsening of motor function lasting more than 8 hours and attributable to a neurological entity. Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage was defined as new hemorrhage on CT that was associated with acute neurological deterioration.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method

Trial Locations

Locations (3): University of Alabama Hospital
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Birmingham, Alabama, United States
UCLA Medical Center
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Los Angeles, California, United States
UCSD Medical Center
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San Diego, California, United States