Cilostazol With Nimodipine to Improve Outcome After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
- Conditions
- Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
- Interventions
- Registration Number
- NCT07144956
- Lead Sponsor
- Centre Hospitalier St Anne
- Brief Summary
The CASH study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluating whether adding cilostazol to standard nimodipine therapy improves neurological outcomes in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). The primary objective is to assess functional outcome at 6 months using the modified Rankin Scale. A total of 630 patients will be enrolled within 96 hours of aSAH onset and treated for 14 days. The study is conducted across 9 centers in France, funded by a PHRC, and overseen by an independent monitoring board.
- Detailed Description
The CASH trial (Cilostazol in Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage) is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase III clinical trial investigating whether the addition of cilostazol to standard nimodipine therapy improves long-term neurological outcomes in patients suffering from aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH).
Secondary brain injury following aSAH, particularly delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) and vasospasm, remains a major cause of mortality and long-term disability. Currently, nimodipine is the only drug with proven efficacy in improving neurological outcomes after aSAH. However, emerging data-mostly from studies conducted in Japan-suggest that cilostazol, a selective phosphodiesterase 3 (PDE3) inhibitor with antiplatelet and vasodilatory effects, may further reduce the risk of ischemic complications and disability when added to standard care.
The cilostazol mechanism includes inhibition of platelet aggregation via cAMP enhancement, vasodilation via nitric oxide release, and endothelial protection. Experimental studies also suggest neuroprotective effects such as attenuation of cortical spreading depolarizations and inhibition of vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation.
The trial will enroll 630 adult patients admitted to intensive care units within 96 hours of a confirmed aSAH due to a ruptured aneurysm that has been secured by either surgical clipping or endovascular coiling. Patients will be randomly assigned to receive either cilostazol 100 mg twice daily for 14 days (administered orally or via gastric tube) or placebo, alongside the standard 21-day nimodipine regimen.
The primary endpoint is the neurological outcome at 6 months, assessed by the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Secondary outcomes include cognitive performance (MoCA score), return to work, independence in daily activities, hospital and ICU stay durations, 28-day mortality, and incidence of DCI, vasospasm, and cerebral infarctions as defined by imaging or clinical criteria.
The study will be conducted over 49 months (42 months of enrollment + 6 months of follow-up), across 9 French centers, with an expected inclusion rate of 1.9 patients per center per month. Two interim analyses are planned. The study is funded by a Programme Hospitalier de Recherche Clinique (PHRC) and monitored by an independent data safety monitoring board (DSMB).
While cilostazol is generally well tolerated, especially in short-term use, potential side effects include headache, palpitations, diarrhea, arrhythmias, bleeding, and allergic reactions. Previous short-term studies suggest an acceptable safety profile in aSAH patients.
If positive, the CASH study may significantly impact clinical guidelines by supporting the inclusion of cilostazol as an adjunct therapy in the management of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- NOT_YET_RECRUITING
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 630
- Adult patients admitted to an ICU with SAH related to a ruptured cerebral aneurysm occurring within the last 96 hours.
- Aneurysm successfully secured by surgical clipping or endovascular coiling
- Consent of the patient or, if not possible, from a proxy (emergency clause).
- Registration in a national health care system
- - Precritical modified Rankin Scale (mRS) > 2
- Nonaneurysmal SAH
- Delayed >96h admission after first symptoms of SAH
- Coma defined by GCS of 3-5 with untreatable aneurysm will be excluded"
- Known allergy to cilostazol
- Pregnancy
- Pre-existing major hepatic, renal, pulmonary or cardiac disease
- Concomitant use of one other anti-platelet and/or anticoagulant agent
- SAH diagnosed on Lumbar puncture with no evidence of blood on CT.
- Tutelage or guardianship
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Cilostazol + Nimodipine Cilostazol (Pletal®) 100 mg Tablets In the cilostazol arm, patients will receive standard care for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, including nimodipine administration as recommended by French and European guidelines for delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) prevention. In addition, participants will receive cilostazol 100 mg twice daily, administered orally or via gastric tube if swallowing is not possible, for 14 consecutive days, starting within 96 hours of hemorrhage onset. Cilostazol tablets may be crushed for enteral administration. All other preventive and curative treatments for vasospasm or DCI-such as hypertensive therapy, milrinone, or endovascular interventions-are permitted at the discretion of the treating physician. Monitoring will include clinical status, occurrence of vasospasm, DCI, cerebral infarction, and cilostazol-related adverse events. Follow-up visits and safety assessments will be identical to the placebo arm. Cilostazol + Nimodipine Nimodipine group In the cilostazol arm, patients will receive standard care for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, including nimodipine administration as recommended by French and European guidelines for delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) prevention. In addition, participants will receive cilostazol 100 mg twice daily, administered orally or via gastric tube if swallowing is not possible, for 14 consecutive days, starting within 96 hours of hemorrhage onset. Cilostazol tablets may be crushed for enteral administration. All other preventive and curative treatments for vasospasm or DCI-such as hypertensive therapy, milrinone, or endovascular interventions-are permitted at the discretion of the treating physician. Monitoring will include clinical status, occurrence of vasospasm, DCI, cerebral infarction, and cilostazol-related adverse events. Follow-up visits and safety assessments will be identical to the placebo arm. Nimodipine + Placebo Placebo In the placebo arm, patients will receive standard care for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, which must include nimodipine for the prevention of delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) as per French and European guidelines. Nimodipine will be administered orally/enterally or intravenously, with dose, route, and duration decided by the treating physician according to patient status and local practice. Participants will receive a placebo, visually identical to cilostazol tablets, given orally or via gastric tube twice daily for 14 days, starting within 96 hours of hemorrhage onset. All other preventive or curative treatments for vasospasm or DCI-such as hypertensive therapy, milrinone, or endovascular procedures-are allowed at the physician's discretion. Monitoring, follow-up, and safety assessments will be performed in the same manner as in the experimental arm. Nimodipine + Placebo Nimodipine group In the placebo arm, patients will receive standard care for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, which must include nimodipine for the prevention of delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) as per French and European guidelines. Nimodipine will be administered orally/enterally or intravenously, with dose, route, and duration decided by the treating physician according to patient status and local practice. Participants will receive a placebo, visually identical to cilostazol tablets, given orally or via gastric tube twice daily for 14 days, starting within 96 hours of hemorrhage onset. All other preventive or curative treatments for vasospasm or DCI-such as hypertensive therapy, milrinone, or endovascular procedures-are allowed at the physician's discretion. Monitoring, follow-up, and safety assessments will be performed in the same manner as in the experimental arm.
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method 100mg twice a day of cilostazol over 14 days improves the modified Rankin scale at 6-months in aneurysmal SAH treated with nimodipine, against placebo Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) assessed at 6 months The primary outcome is neurological functional outcome at 6 months after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, assessed using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). The mRS is a 7-point scale ranging from 0 (no symptoms) to 6 (death), widely used to measure the degree of disability or dependence in daily activities. The study aims to determine whether the addition of cilostazol to nimodipine improves long-term neurological recovery compared to standard treatment alone.
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Functional Outcome at 6 Months Measured by the Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Outcome Tool (SAHOT) 6 months SAHOT total score (range: 0-100; higher scores indicate better functional outcome).
In-hospital morbidity and mortality 28 days Length of stay in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Length of hospital stay 28-day mortality
Clinical and radiological events predictive of functional status 6 months Delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI): focal neurological deficit or a decrease of at least 2 points in the Glasgow Coma Scale, not occurring immediately after aneurysm occlusion and not attributable to other causes.
Cerebral vasospasm: reduction in the calibre of proximal cerebral vessels seen on CT angiography, MR angiography, or catheter angiography (DSA), classified according to severity.
Cerebral infarcts: diagnosis by CT or MRI scan within 6 weeks (or latest imaging before death within 6 weeks, or at autopsy), not present on the CT or MRI scan performed between 24 and 48 hours after early aneurysm occlusion and not attributable to other causes.Incidence of Cilostazol-Related Major and Minor Adverse Events 6 months. Major adverse events: arrhythmia, abnormal bleeding, allergy.
Minor adverse events: tachycardia, fever, fainting, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain.
Notes: Data will be collected from patient reports, clinical assessments, and medical records to evaluate the safety and tolerability of cilostazol.Cognitive Function at 6 Months Measured by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) 6 months MoCA total score (range: 0-30; higher scores indicate better cognitive function).
Return to Work at 6 Months 6 months Number of participants who have returned to work (yes/no).
Activities of Daily Living (ADL) at 6 Months 6 months Independence in basic self-care activities (scored as dependent/independent).
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) at 6 Months 6 months Independence in instrumental daily activities (scored as dependent/independent).