Hydrocortisone Therapy Optimization During Hypothermia Treatment in Asphyxiated Neonates

Summary

This is a prospective, single center, pharmacokinetic study of intravenous hydrocortisone therapy for systemic low blood pressure during hypothermia treatment in asphyxiated newborns. Patients will be allocated to hydrocortisone supplementation while receiving conventional inotropic therapy as needed. The hypothesis is that a detailed study of hydrocortisone pharmacokinetics during therapeutic hypothermia would help to personalize steroid supplementation in asphyxiated neonates. As the overall metabolic rate decreases with lower body temperature, drug metabolism is likely to be reduced as well, and lower doses, or less frequent dosing will be sufficient to achieve the targeted steroid range and biological effects in asphyxiated neonates with relative adrenal insufficiency. Thus, the investigators are planning to measure initial, baseline serum cortisol levels and serial serum cortisol levels after hydrocortisone supplementation in cooled asphyxiated neonates.

Timeline

Start

2021-09-21

Primary completion

2027-09

Completion

2027-09

Publications

• Background Azzopardi DV, Strohm B, Edwards AD, Dyet L, Halliday HL, Juszczak E, Kapellou O, Levene M, Marlow N, Porter E, Thoresen M, Whitelaw A, Brocklehurst P; TOBY Study Group. Moderate hypothermia to treat perinatal asphyxial encephalopathy. N Engl J Med. 2009 Oct 1;361(14):1349-58. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa0900854.
• Background Kovacs K, Szakmar E, Meder U, Szakacs L, Cseko A, Vatai B, Szabo AJ, McNamara PJ, Szabo M, Jermendy A. A Randomized Controlled Study of Low-Dose Hydrocortisone Versus Placebo in Dopamine-Treated Hypotensive Neonates Undergoing Hypothermia Treatment for Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy. J Pediatr. 2019 Aug;211:13-19.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2019.04.008. Epub 2019 May 30.
• Background Kovacs K, Szakmar E, Meder U, Cseko A, Szabo AJ, Szabo M, Jermendy A. Serum cortisol levels in asphyxiated infants with hypotension. Early Hum Dev. 2018 May;120:40-45. doi: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2018.03.003. Epub 2018 Apr 4. No abstract available.
• Background Watterberg KL. Hydrocortisone Dosing for Hypotension in Newborn Infants: Less Is More. J Pediatr. 2016 Jul;174:23-26.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2016.04.005. Epub 2016 May 4. No abstract available.
• Background Concepcion KR, Zhang L. Corticosteroids and perinatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. Drug Discov Today. 2018 Oct;23(10):1718-1732. doi: 10.1016/j.drudis.2018.05.019. Epub 2018 May 17.
• Background Sarkar S, Barks JD. Systemic complications and hypothermia. Semin Fetal Neonatal Med. 2010 Oct;15(5):270-5. doi: 10.1016/j.siny.2010.02.001. Epub 2010 Mar 12.

Drugs

Indications