In short
There are currently 2 ongoing clinical trials investigating treatments for post cardiac arrest syndrome. These trials are exploring different approaches to reduce brain injury and improve recovery in patients who have experienced cardiac arrest and remain unconscious. The trials are being conducted in Belgium and Finland.
Clinical trial locations
- Belgium
- Finland
Study on the Effects of Sodium Lactate and Electrolyte Solution in Comatose Patients After Cardiac Arrest
This trial is investigating whether a solution containing sodium lactate can help reduce brain injury in patients who remain in a coma after their heart has stopped and been restarted. The study is taking place in Belgium and will continue until November 2030.
Who can participate:
- Adults over 18 years old
- Patients whose heart has restarted and remained beating on its own for at least 20 minutes
- Patients who are unconscious with a Glasgow Coma Scale score below 9, which measures the level of consciousness
- Patients where it took more than 15 minutes for the heart to restart
Who cannot participate:
- Patients with brain injury from causes other than lack of oxygen
- Patients who are conscious or not in a coma
- Patients who have not experienced cardiac arrest
- Patients outside the specified age range
What the trial involves:
The main focus of this trial is to test whether hypertonic sodium lactate infusion can protect the brain from further damage after cardiac arrest. The treatment is given directly into the bloodstream through an intravenous line. Researchers will measure the effectiveness by checking levels of certain proteins in the blood that indicate brain injury, particularly 48 hours after the heart restarted.
The study will also monitor various other outcomes including recovery of brain function at 90 days, how long patients need to stay in intensive care and hospital, survival rates, and any seizure episodes. Patients will be closely observed throughout their hospital stay and followed up over time.
Investigational treatment: The trial uses hypertonic sodium lactate, a solution that provides energy to brain cells and may help improve their function and survival after oxygen deprivation. The solution also contains electrolytes including magnesium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium chloride, sodium acetate, and sodium gluconate.
Study on the Effects of Xenon and Oxygen on Brain Injury and Recovery in Patients with Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in Intensive Care
This trial is examining whether xenon gas can help protect the brain and improve recovery in patients who have experienced a specific type of brain bleeding called aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. This occurs when a blood vessel on the brain's surface bursts. The study is being conducted in Finland.
Who can participate:
- Adults 18 years or older
- Patients with brain hemorrhage visible on imaging tests
- Patients whose consciousness has deteriorated to Hunt-Hess grade 3 to 5, a scale measuring hemorrhage severity
- Patients who are intubated with a breathing tube
- Patients with a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 3 to 12 when not under muscle-blocking drugs
- Patients who can begin xenon treatment within 6 hours of symptom onset
- Consent obtained from next of kin or legal representative
Who cannot participate:
- Patients with uncontrolled serious infections
- Patients with severe heart, liver, or kidney problems
- Patients who have had a stroke in the past 6 months
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women
- Patients with known allergy to xenon
- Patients participating in another clinical trial
- Patients with mental health conditions that might interfere with the study
- Patients with a history of substance abuse
What the trial involves:
The study investigates whether xenon gas, which patients breathe in through a ventilator, can reduce brain injury and improve neurological outcomes and survival. Xenon is thought to block certain brain receptors involved in cell death, potentially helping preserve brain function after hemorrhage.
Throughout the trial, patients undergo regular monitoring including MRI scans to evaluate the treatment's effects on brain tissue, particularly the white matter that helps different brain regions communicate. Researchers will assess both the safety of xenon treatment by tracking any adverse events and its effectiveness in improving recovery.
The trial includes a follow-up period lasting up to one year after treatment, during which doctors will continue to evaluate recovery progress, neurological outcomes, and overall health.
Investigational treatment: Xenon is administered as an inhaled gas delivered through a ventilator. It is a noble gas with anesthetic properties being studied for its potential neuroprotective effects in protecting the brain after injury.
Summary
Currently, there are 2 active clinical trials exploring treatments for post cardiac arrest syndrome and related brain injuries. These trials represent different therapeutic approaches, with one investigating a sodium lactate solution administered intravenously and the other examining xenon gas delivered through inhalation.
The trials are geographically distributed across Europe, with one taking place in Belgium and one in Finland. Both studies share a common goal of reducing brain injury and improving neurological recovery in critically ill patients, though they focus on different patient populations and use distinct investigational treatments.
Each trial employs careful monitoring through imaging studies and assessment scales to evaluate both safety and effectiveness. The Belgium trial will continue until 2030, providing long-term data on sodium lactate treatment, while the Finland trial includes up to one year of follow-up for xenon treatment outcomes.
