Erythropoetin Neuroprotection for Neonatal Cardiac Surgery

Summary

Brain problems occur in neonatal open heart surgery with a frequency of 20-70%, seen on neurological examination, brain imaging such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or long term development problems such as learning disorders and hyperactivity syndromes. This study aims to determine if erythropoetin, a natural hormone made in the body, protects the brain from damage when given in high doses before and during neonatal open heart surgery. We will use brain MRI, brain wave tests (EEG), neurological examination, and long term developmental outcome testing to see if erythropoetin is better than salt water injection (placebo) in protecting the brain.

Timeline

Start

2006-09

Primary completion

2012-09

Completion

2015-09

Publications

• Background Kellert BA, McPherson RJ, Juul SE. A comparison of high-dose recombinant erythropoietin treatment regimens in brain-injured neonatal rats. Pediatr Res. 2007 Apr;61(4):451-5. doi: 10.1203/pdr.0b013e3180332cec.
• Background McPherson RJ, Demers EJ, Juul SE. Safety of high-dose recombinant erythropoietin in a neonatal rat model. Neonatology. 2007;91(1):36-43. doi: 10.1159/000096969. Epub 2006 Nov 10.
• Background Galli KK, Zimmerman RA, Jarvik GP, Wernovsky G, Kuypers MK, Clancy RR, Montenegro LM, Mahle WT, Newman MF, Saunders AM, Nicolson SC, Spray TL, Gaynor JW. Periventricular leukomalacia is common after neonatal cardiac surgery. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2004 Mar;127(3):692-704. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2003.09.053.
• Background Andropoulos DB, Stayer SA, Diaz LK, Ramamoorthy C. Neurological monitoring for congenital heart surgery. Anesth Analg. 2004 Nov;99(5):1365-1375. doi: 10.1213/01.ANE.0000134808.52676.4D.
• Background Andropoulos DB, Stayer SA, McKenzie ED, Fraser CD Jr. Regional low-flow perfusion provides comparable blood flow and oxygenation to both cerebral hemispheres during neonatal aortic arch reconstruction. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2003 Dec;126(6):1712-7. doi: 10.1016/s0022-5223(03)01027-4.
• Background Maiese K, Li F, Chong ZZ. New avenues of exploration for erythropoietin. JAMA. 2005 Jan 5;293(1):90-5. doi: 10.1001/jama.293.1.90.
• Background McQuillen PS, Barkovich AJ, Hamrick SE, Perez M, Ward P, Glidden DV, Azakie A, Karl T, Miller SP. Temporal and anatomic risk profile of brain injury with neonatal repair of congenital heart defects. Stroke. 2007 Feb;38(2 Suppl):736-41. doi: 10.1161/01.STR.0000247941.41234.90.
• Background Chang YS, Mu D, Wendland M, Sheldon RA, Vexler ZS, McQuillen PS, Ferriero DM. Erythropoietin improves functional and histological outcome in neonatal stroke. Pediatr Res. 2005 Jul;58(1):106-11. doi: 10.1203/01.PDR.0000163616.89767.69. Epub 2005 May 5.
• Background Ballweg JA, Wernovsky G, Gaynor JW. Neurodevelopmental outcomes following congenital heart surgery. Pediatr Cardiol. 2007 Mar-Apr;28(2):126-33. doi: 10.1007/s00246-006-1450-9. Epub 2007 Jan 29.
• Background Karl TR, Hall S, Ford G, Kelly EA, Brizard CP, Mee RB, Weintraub RG, Cochrane AD, Glidden D. Arterial switch with full-flow cardiopulmonary bypass and limited circulatory arrest: neurodevelopmental outcome. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2004 Jan;127(1):213-22. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2003.06.001.
• Background Wypij D, Newburger JW, Rappaport LA, duPlessis AJ, Jonas RA, Wernovsky G, Lin M, Bellinger DC. The effect of duration of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest in infant heart surgery on late neurodevelopment: the Boston Circulatory Arrest Trial. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2003 Nov;126(5):1397-403. doi: 10.1016/s0022-5223(03)00940-1.
• Background Zhu C, Kang W, Xu F, Cheng X, Zhang Z, Jia L, Ji L, Guo X, Xiong H, Simbruner G, Blomgren K, Wang X. Erythropoietin improved neurologic outcomes in newborns with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Pediatrics. 2009 Aug;124(2):e218-26. doi: 10.1542/peds.2008-3553. Epub 2009 Jul 27.
• Background Andropoulos DB, Mizrahi EM, Hrachovy RA, Stayer SA, Stark AR, Heinle JS, McKenzie ED, Dickerson HA, Meador MR, Fraser CD Jr. Electroencephalographic seizures after neonatal cardiac surgery with high-flow cardiopulmonary bypass. Anesth Analg. 2010 Jun 1;110(6):1680-5. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0b013e3181dd5a58. Epub 2010 Apr 30.
• Background Andropoulos DB, Hunter JV, Nelson DP, Stayer SA, Stark AR, McKenzie ED, Heinle JS, Graves DE, Fraser CD Jr. Brain immaturity is associated with brain injury before and after neonatal cardiac surgery with high-flow bypass and cerebral oxygenation monitoring. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2010 Mar;139(3):543-56. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2009.08.022. Epub 2009 Nov 11.
• Background McPherson RJ, Juul SE. Erythropoietin for infants with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Curr Opin Pediatr. 2010 Apr;22(2):139-45. doi: 10.1097/MOP.0b013e328336eb57.
• Background Juul SE, McPherson RJ, Bauer LA, Ledbetter KJ, Gleason CA, Mayock DE. A phase I/II trial of high-dose erythropoietin in extremely low birth weight infants: pharmacokinetics and safety. Pediatrics. 2008 Aug;122(2):383-91. doi: 10.1542/peds.2007-2711.
• Background Fauchere JC, Dame C, Vonthein R, Koller B, Arri S, Wolf M, Bucher HU. An approach to using recombinant erythropoietin for neuroprotection in very preterm infants. Pediatrics. 2008 Aug;122(2):375-82. doi: 10.1542/peds.2007-2591.
• Background Brown MS, Eichorst D, Lala-Black B, Gonzalez R. Higher cumulative doses of erythropoietin and developmental outcomes in preterm infants. Pediatrics. 2009 Oct;124(4):e681-7. doi: 10.1542/peds.2008-2701. Epub 2009 Sep 28.
• Results Andropoulos DB, Brady K, Easley RB, Dickerson HA, Voigt RG, Shekerdemian LS, Meador MR, Eisenman CA, Hunter JV, Turcich M, Rivera C, McKenzie ED, Heinle JS, Fraser CD Jr. Erythropoietin neuroprotection in neonatal cardiac surgery: a phase I/II safety and efficacy trial. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2013 Jul;146(1):124-31. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2012.09.046. Epub 2012 Oct 23.

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