Preterm Erythropoietin Neuroprotection Trial (PENUT Trial)

NCT ID: NCT01378273

Last Updated: 2020-08-26

Study Results

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Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

PHASE3

Total Enrollment

941 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2013-12-31

Study Completion Date

2020-02-28

Brief Summary

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Recombinant human erythropoietin (Epo) is a promising novel neuroprotective agent. Epo decreases neuronal programmed cell death resulting from brain injury; it has anti-inflammatory effects, increases neurogenesis, and protects oligodendrocytes from injury.

We hypothesize that neonatal Epo treatment of ELGANs will decrease the combined outcome of death or severe NDI from 40% to 30% (primary outcome), or the combined outcome of death plus moderate or severe NDI from 60% to 40% (secondary outcome) measured at 24-26 months corrected age.

1. To determine whether Epo decreases the combined outcome of death or NDI at 24-26 months corrected age. NDI is defined as the presence of any one of the following: CP, Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, 3rd Edition (Bayley-III) Cognitive Scale \< 70 (severe, 2 SD below mean) or 85 (moderate, 1 SD below mean). CP will be diagnosed and classified by standardized neurologic exam, with severity classified by Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS).
2. To determine whether there are risks to Epo administration in ELGANs by examining, in a blinded manner, Epo-related safety measures comparing infants receiving Epo with those given placebo.
3. To test whether Epo treatment decreases serial measures of circulating inflammatory mediators, and biomarkers of brain injury.
4. To compare brain structure (as measured by MRI) in Epo treatment and control groups at 36 weeks PMA. MRI assessments will include documentation of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), white matter injury (WMI) and hydrocephalus (HC), volume of total and deep gray matter, white matter and cerebellum, brain gyrification, and tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS based on diffusion tensor imaging). As an exploratory aim, we will determine which of the above MRI measurements best predict neurodevelopment (CP, cognitive and motor scales) at 24-26 months corrected age.

Anticipated outcomes: Early Epo treatment of ELGANs will decrease biochemical and MRI markers of brain injury, will be safe, and will confer improved neurodevelopmental outcome at 24-26 months corrected age compared to placebo, and will provide a much-needed therapy for this group of vulnerable infants.

Detailed Description

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This is a randomized, placebo-controlled, study of Epo treatment of preterm infants 24-0/7 to 27-6/7 weeks of gestation, beginning in the first 24 hours after birth. Randomization will be stratified by site and gestational age at birth (\<26 week or 26-27-6/7). Study size sample is 940 patients. We expect to evaluate 752 subjects at 24-26 months corrected age, our primary endpoint. There is no enrollment restriction based on gender, ethnicity or race. Enrollment is expected to take 24-26 months, with each subject participating through 24-26 months corrected age when neurodevelopmental outcomes are assessed. The combined outcome of death or severe NDI will be compared between Epo-treated and control subjects. All outcomes will be collected in a blinded manner. Subjects will be randomized by the data-coordinating center (DCC) to Epo treatment or placebo, and Epo treatment will continue until 32-6/7 weeks post menstrual age. Serial measurements of circulating inflammatory mediators and biomarkers of brain injury will be made. A brain MRI will be done at 36 weeks post menstrual age in the same subset of infants. Phone contact will occur at 4, 8, 12, and 18 months. Face to face follow up will occur at 24-26 months corrected age. The primary outcome is death or severe NDI at 24-26 months corrected age, with a secondary outcome of death or moderate NDI. Our primary sample size calculation is based on the conservative assumptions that Epo treatment will result in a 40% reduction in the severe NDI rate (the range in animal studies is 49-70%) and minimal impact on death. This would yield a control group rate for the primary outcome of 40.4% and an expected treated rate of 31.5% thus yielding an 8.9% lower rate of Death + NDI.

Clinical information including co-morbidities of extreme prematurity, information about transfusions, and specific laboratory values were collected in the PENUT database.

Conditions

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Extreme Prematurity

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

QUADRUPLE

Participants Caregivers Investigators Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Control

Subjects will receive 6 doses of vehicle intravenously during the first 2 weeks of life. Doses will be administered at 48 hour intervals from the time of enrollment. Following high dose administration, sham subcutaneous injections will be given three times a week through to 32-6/7 weeks postmenstrual age.

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Control

Intervention Type OTHER

Subjects will receive 6 doses of vehicle intravenously during the first 2 weeks of life. Doses will be administered at 48 hour intervals from the time of enrollment. Following high dose administration, sham subcutaneous injections will be given three times a week through to 32-6/7 weeks postmenstrual age.

Epo 1000 U/kg followed by 400 U/kg

Subjects will receive 6 doses of intravenous Epo 1000 U/kg/dose at 48 hour intervals from the time of enrollment. Following the high dose period, subjects will receive subcutaneous Epo 400 U/kg/dose three times a week until 32-6/7 weeks postmenstrual age.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Epo

Intervention Type DRUG

Enrollment will occur within 24 hours of birth. Study drug will be administered intravenously for the first 6 doses. Subjects in the Epo arm will then receive 400 U/kg/dose three times a week until they reach 32-6/7 weeks postmenstrual age. Control infants will receive sham injections.

Interventions

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Epo

Enrollment will occur within 24 hours of birth. Study drug will be administered intravenously for the first 6 doses. Subjects in the Epo arm will then receive 400 U/kg/dose three times a week until they reach 32-6/7 weeks postmenstrual age. Control infants will receive sham injections.

Intervention Type DRUG

Control

Subjects will receive 6 doses of vehicle intravenously during the first 2 weeks of life. Doses will be administered at 48 hour intervals from the time of enrollment. Following high dose administration, sham subcutaneous injections will be given three times a week through to 32-6/7 weeks postmenstrual age.

Intervention Type OTHER

Other Intervention Names

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Epotin Erythropoietin Saline

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. NICU inpatients between 24-0/7 and 27-6/7 weeks of gestation
2. Less than twenty four hours of age
3. Parental informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

1. Major life-threatening anomalies (brain, cardiac, chromosomal anomalies)
2. Hematologic crises such as DIC, or hemolysis due to blood group incompatibilities
3. Polycythemia (hematocrit \> 65)
4. Congenital infection
Minimum Eligible Age

24 Weeks

Maximum Eligible Age

27 Weeks

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

NIH

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Washington

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Sandra Juul

Professor of Pediatrics

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Sandra E Juul, MD, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Washington

Locations

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University of Arkansas

Little Rock, Arkansas, United States

Site Status

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida, United States

Site Status

South Miami Hospital

Miami, Florida, United States

Site Status

Florida Hospital

Orlando, Florida, United States

Site Status

All Childrens Hospital

St. Petersburg, Florida, United States

Site Status

Prentice Women's Hospital

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Site Status

Children's Hospital of the University of Illinois

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Site Status

University of Louisville

Louisville, Kentucky, United States

Site Status

Johns Hopkins

Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Site Status

Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Site Status

Children's Hospital of Minnesota, MN

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

Site Status

University of Minnesota Amplatz Children's Hospital

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

Site Status

Children's Hospital of Minnesota, St. Paul

Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States

Site Status

University of New Mexico Children's Hospital

Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States

Site Status

Maia Fareri Children's Hospital

Valhalla, New York, United States

Site Status

Wake Forest School of Medicine

Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States

Site Status

Methodist Children's Hospital

San Antonio, Texas, United States

Site Status

University of Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States

Site Status

University of Washington

Seattle, Washington, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

References

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Juul SE, Mayock DE, Comstock BA, Heagerty PJ. Neuroprotective potential of erythropoietin in neonates; design of a randomized trial. Matern Health Neonatol Perinatol. 2015 Dec 2;1:27. doi: 10.1186/s40748-015-0028-z. eCollection 2015.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 27057344 (View on PubMed)

Starr MC, Askenazi DJ, Goldstein SL, MacDonald JW, Bammler TK, Afsharinejad Z, D Brophy P, Juul SE, Mayock DE, Hingorani SR. Impact of processing methods on urinary biomarkers analysis in neonates. Pediatr Nephrol. 2018 Jan;33(1):181-186. doi: 10.1007/s00467-017-3779-0. Epub 2017 Aug 19.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 28821985 (View on PubMed)

Juul SE, Comstock BA, Wadhawan R, Mayock DE, Courtney SE, Robinson T, Ahmad KA, Bendel-Stenzel E, Baserga M, LaGamma EF, Downey LC, Rao R, Fahim N, Lampland A, Frantz ID III, Khan JY, Weiss M, Gilmore MM, Ohls RK, Srinivasan N, Perez JE, McKay V, Vu PT, Lowe J, Kuban K, O'Shea TM, Hartman AL, Heagerty PJ; PENUT Trial Consortium. A Randomized Trial of Erythropoietin for Neuroprotection in Preterm Infants. N Engl J Med. 2020 Jan 16;382(3):233-243. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1907423.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 31940698 (View on PubMed)

Valentine GC, Perez KM, Wood TR, Mayock DE, Law JB, Kolnik S, Strobel KM, Brandon OC, Comstock BA, Heagerty PJ, Juul SE. Time to regain birthweight and association with neurodevelopmental outcomes among extremely preterm newborns. J Perinatol. 2024 Apr;44(4):554-560. doi: 10.1038/s41372-024-01869-8. Epub 2024 Jan 9.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 38195922 (View on PubMed)

Strobel KM, Wood TR, Valentine GC, German KR, Gogcu S, Hendrixson DT, Kolnik SE, Law JB, Mayock DE, Comstock BA, Heagerty PJ, Juul SE. Contemporary definitions of infant growth failure and neurodevelopmental and behavioral outcomes in extremely premature infants at two years of age. J Perinatol. 2024 Jun;44(6):811-818. doi: 10.1038/s41372-023-01852-9. Epub 2024 Jan 9.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 38195921 (View on PubMed)

Hingorani SR, Schmicker RH, Halloran B, Brophy P, Heagerty PJ, Juul S, Goldstein SL, Askenazi D; PENUT Investigators. Association Between Urinary Biomarkers and CKD in Extremely Low Gestational Age Neonates. Am J Kidney Dis. 2024 Apr;83(4):497-507. doi: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2023.09.008. Epub 2023 Nov 4.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 37926336 (View on PubMed)

Valentine G, Perez K, Wood T, Mayock D, Law J, Kolnik S, Strobel K, Brandon O, Comstock B, Heagerty P, Juul S. Time to Regain Birthweight and Association with Neurodevelopmental Outcomes among Extremely Preterm Newborns. Res Sq [Preprint]. 2023 Sep 14:rs.3.rs-3249598. doi: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3249598/v1.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 37790304 (View on PubMed)

Starr MC, Griffin RL, Harer MW, Soranno DE, Gist KM, Segar JL, Menon S, Gordon L, Askenazi DJ, Selewski DT. Acute Kidney Injury Defined by Fluid-Corrected Creatinine in Premature Neonates: A Secondary Analysis of the PENUT Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2023 Aug 1;6(8):e2328182. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.28182.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 37561461 (View on PubMed)

Starr MC, Griffin R, Gist KM, Segar JL, Raina R, Guillet R, Nesargi S, Menon S, Anderson N, Askenazi DJ, Selewski DT; Neonatal Kidney Collaborative Research Committee. Association of Fluid Balance With Short- and Long-term Respiratory Outcomes in Extremely Premature Neonates: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2022 Dec 1;5(12):e2248826. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.48826.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 36580332 (View on PubMed)

Hingorani S, Schmicker R, Ahmad KA, Frantz ID, Mayock DE, La Gamma EF, Baserga M, Khan JY, Gilmore MM, Robinson T, Brophy P, Heagerty PJ, Juul SE, Goldstein S, Askenazi D; PENUT Trial Consortium; PENUT Primary Investigators and coauthors. Prevalence and Risk Factors for Kidney Disease and Elevated BP in 2-Year-Old Children Born Extremely Premature. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2022 Aug;17(8):1129-1138. doi: 10.2215/CJN.15011121. Epub 2022 Jul 19.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 35853728 (View on PubMed)

Garcia MR, Comstock BA, Patel RM, Tolia VN, Josephson CD, Georgieff MK, Rao R, Monsell SE, Juul SE, Ahmad KA; PENUT Trial Consortium. Iron supplementation and the risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in extremely low gestational age newborns. Pediatr Res. 2023 Feb;93(3):701-707. doi: 10.1038/s41390-022-02160-2. Epub 2022 Jun 20.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 35725917 (View on PubMed)

Valentine GC, Perez KM, Wood TR, Mayock DE, Comstock BA, Puia-Dumitrescu M, Heagerty PJ, Juul SE. Postnatal maximal weight loss, fluid administration, and outcomes in extremely preterm newborns. J Perinatol. 2022 Aug;42(8):1008-1016. doi: 10.1038/s41372-022-01369-7. Epub 2022 Mar 25.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 35338252 (View on PubMed)

Askenazi DJ, Halloran BA, Heagerty PJ, Schmicker RH, Brophy P, Juul SE, Hingorani S, Goldstein SL; PENUT Trial Consortium. Gestational age, sex, and time affect urine biomarker concentrations in extremely low gestational age neonates. Pediatr Res. 2022 Jul;92(1):151-167. doi: 10.1038/s41390-021-01814-x. Epub 2021 Nov 30.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 34845352 (View on PubMed)

German KR, Vu PT, Comstock BA, Ohls RK, Heagerty PJ, Mayock DE, Georgieff M, Rao R, Juul SE; PENUT Consortium. Enteral Iron Supplementation in Infants Born Extremely Preterm and its Positive Correlation with Neurodevelopment; Post Hoc Analysis of the Preterm Erythropoietin Neuroprotection Trial Randomized Controlled Trial. J Pediatr. 2021 Nov;238:102-109.e8. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2021.07.019. Epub 2021 Jul 27.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 34324880 (View on PubMed)

Hingorani S, Schmicker RH, Brophy PD, Heagerty PJ, Juul SE, Goldstein SL, Askenazi D; PENUT Investigators. Severe Acute Kidney Injury and Mortality in Extremely Low Gestational Age Neonates. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2021 Jun;16(6):862-869. doi: 10.2215/CJN.18841220. Epub 2021 Jun 11.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 34117080 (View on PubMed)

Mayock DE, Xie Z, Comstock BA, Heagerty PJ, Juul SE; Preterm Epo Neuroprotection (PENUT) Trial Consortium. High-Dose Erythropoietin in Extremely Low Gestational Age Neonates Does Not Alter Risk of Retinopathy of Prematurity. Neonatology. 2020;117(5):650-657. doi: 10.1159/000511262. Epub 2020 Oct 28.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 33113526 (View on PubMed)

Juul SE, Vu PT, Comstock BA, Wadhawan R, Mayock DE, Courtney SE, Robinson T, Ahmad KA, Bendel-Stenzel E, Baserga M, LaGamma EF, Downey LC, O'Shea M, Rao R, Fahim N, Lampland A, Frantz ID 3rd, Khan J, Weiss M, Gilmore MM, Ohls R, Srinivasan N, Perez JE, McKay V, Heagerty PJ; Preterm Erythropoietin Neuroprotection Trial Consortium. Effect of High-Dose Erythropoietin on Blood Transfusions in Extremely Low Gestational Age Neonates: Post Hoc Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Pediatr. 2020 Oct 1;174(10):933-943. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2020.2271.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 32804205 (View on PubMed)

Askenazi DJ, Heagerty PJ, Schmicker RH, Griffin R, Brophy P, Juul SE, Mayock DE, Goldstein SL, Hingorani S; PENUT Trial Consortium. Prevalence of acute kidney injury (AKI) in extremely low gestational age neonates (ELGAN). Pediatr Nephrol. 2020 Sep;35(9):1737-1748. doi: 10.1007/s00467-020-04563-x. Epub 2020 Jun 2.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 32488672 (View on PubMed)

Provided Documents

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Document Type: Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Related Links

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http://PENUT-trial.org

website for the PENUT Trial

Other Identifiers

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U01NS077953

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

STUDY00007464

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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