Effect of Allopurinol for Hypoxic-ischemic Brain Injury on Neurocognitive Outcome

Summary

Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a major cause of death or long-term disability in infants born at term in the western world, affecting about 1-4 per 1.000 life births and consequently about 5-20.000 infants per year in Europe. Hypothermic treatment became the only established therapy to improve outcome after perinatal hypoxic-ischemic insults. Despite hypothermia and neonatal intensive care, 45-50% of affected children die or suffer from long-term neurodevelopmental impairment. Additional neuroprotective interventions, beside hypothermia, are warranted to further improve their outcome. Allopurinol is a xanthine oxidase inhibitor and reduces the production of oxygen radicals and brain damage in experimental, animal, and early human studies of ischemia and reperfusion. This project aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of allopurinol administered immediately after birth to near-term infants with HIE in addition to hypothermic treatment.

Timeline

Start

2018-03-25

Primary completion

2026-01-31

Completion

2026-01-31

Publications

• Background Maiwald CA, Annink KV, Rudiger M, Benders MJNL, van Bel F, Allegaert K, Naulaers G, Bassler D, Klebermass-Schrehof K, Vento M, Guimaraes H, Stiris T, Cattarossi L, Metsaranta M, Vanhatalo S, Mazela J, Metsvaht T, Jacobs Y, Franz AR; ALBINO Study Group. Effect of allopurinol in addition to hypothermia treatment in neonates for hypoxic-ischemic brain injury on neurocognitive outcome (ALBINO): study protocol of a blinded randomized placebo-controlled parallel group multicenter trial for superiority (phase III). BMC Pediatr. 2019 Jun 27;19(1):210. doi: 10.1186/s12887-019-1566-8.
• Background Annink KV, Franz AR, Derks JB, Rudiger M, Bel FV, Benders MJNL. Allopurinol: Old Drug, New Indication in Neonates? Curr Pharm Des. 2017;23(38):5935-5942. doi: 10.2174/1381612823666170918123307.
• Background Deferm N, Annink KV, Faelens R, Schroth M, Maiwald CA, Bakkali LE, van Bel F, Benders MJNL, van Weissenbruch MM, Hagen A, Smits A, Annaert P, Franz AR, Allegaert K; ALBINO Study Group. Glomerular Filtration Rate in Asphyxiated Neonates Under Therapeutic Whole-Body Hypothermia, Quantified by Mannitol Clearance. Clin Pharmacokinet. 2021 Jul;60(7):897-906. doi: 10.1007/s40262-021-00991-6. Epub 2021 Feb 21.
• Engel C, Rudiger M, Benders MJNL, van Bel F, Allegaert K, Naulaers G, Bassler D, Klebermass-Schrehof K, Vento M, Vilan A, Falck M, Mauro I, Metsaranta M, Vanhatalo S, Mazela J, Metsvaht T, van der Vlught R, Franz AR; ALBINO Study Group. Detailed statistical analysis plan for ALBINO: effect of Allopurinol in addition to hypothermia for hypoxic-ischemic Brain Injury on Neurocognitive Outcome - a blinded randomized placebo-controlled parallel group multicenter trial for superiority (phase III). Trials. 2024 Jan 24;25(1):81. doi: 10.1186/s13063-023-07828-6.

Drugs

Indications