Chronic Sildenafil for Severe Diaphragmatic Hernia

Phase 4

Terminated

Conditions: Hypertension, Pulmonary
Hypoplasia, Pulmonary
Hernia, Diaphragmatic

Brief Summary: The purpose of this study is to test if sildenafil is effective in the treatment of infants with severe congenital diaphragmatic hernia (determined by the presence of prolonged pulmonary hypertension or prolonged oxygen supplementation on mechanical ventilation), as measured by the estimated pulmonary artery systolic pressure following treatment.

Detailed Description: Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a condition characterized by pulmonary parenchymal and vascular hypoplasia. Severe CDH carries a high rate of mortality, and significant morbidity among survivors. This proposal is a randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled study designed to evaluate the efficacy and potential mechanisms of activity of sildenafil, a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor, for treatment of severe CDH. Infants who meet criteria at ≥10d of age predicting a poor outcome \[death or chronic lung disease (CLD) severe enough to require hospital discharge on supplemental oxygen (O2)\] will be eligible for the study. Infants whose parents consent for the study will undergo an initial echocardiogram to assess the degree of pulmonary hypertension. They will then begin either sildenafil or placebo therapy for a 45d course. A final echocardiogram will be performed after the experimental drug course is completed. The pulmonary arterial systolic pressure estimate during hyperoxic conditions will be compared between the sildenafil and placebo groups. Infants from either group who have severely elevated pulmonary arterial pressure (despite supplemental O2) will be considered for open-label sildenafil, which will continue after hospital discharge, depending on the results of a cardiac catheterization performed for clinical care.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia
10-42 days (d) of age
Significant illness severity as demonstrated by:
Receiving assisted ventilation and
- FiO2 >= 0.40 at 10-14d of age, or
- FiO2 >= 0.40 for >=48hours at 15-27d of age, or
- FiO2 >= 0.35 at 28-42d of age
Or, need for extracorporeal support at >=10d of age
Or, estimated pulmonary arterial or right ventricular systolic pressure of >= 2/3 systemic pressure at 14-42d of age

Exclusion Criteria

Structural congenital heart disease (other than patent ductus arteriosus or patent foramen ovale/atrial septal defect [ASD] or non-hemodynamically significant ventricular septal defect [VSD])
Sildenafil contraindicated (until condition resolves):
- Unable to absorb oral medication, or
- Unstable systemic blood pressure, or
- Receiving a drug that may interfere with sildenafil metabolism, or
- Renal insufficiency
- Hepatic insufficiency Previous use of sildenafil

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
2	Placebo	Placebo x 45 d
1	sildenafil	Sildenafil x 45 days

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Estimated Systolic Pulmonary Arterial Pressure at Final Echocardiogram	7 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Respiratory Status at 1 and 2 Years of Age	2 years
Somatic Growth at 1 and 2 Years of Age	2 years
Neurodevelopmental Outcome at 1 and 2 Years of Age	2 years
Systemic Levels of Vasoactive Substances at the Time of Final Echocardiogram	7 weeks
Adverse Effects of Sildenafil Therapy	2 years

Locations (3): Children's Hospital of Los Angeles
🇺🇸
Los Angeles, California, United States
University of California San Francisco Children's Hospital
🇺🇸
San Francisco, California, United States
Children's Memorial Hospital
🇺🇸
Chicago, Illinois, United States