STeroids to REduce Systemic Inflammation After Infant Heart Surgery
NCT ID: NCT03229538
Last Updated: 2026-01-05
Study Results
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View full resultsBasic Information
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COMPLETED
PHASE3
1263 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2017-10-18
2022-03-31
Brief Summary
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Detailed Description
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Congenital heart diseases (CHD) are the most common birth defects, occurring in nearly 1% of live births. Every year, an estimated 40,000 infants born in the U.S. suffer from CHD. Despite advances in surgical management, CHD requiring neonatal surgery is associated with poor outcomes; national registry data demonstrates post-operative major morbidity in 23% and 10% do not survive to hospital discharge.
Poor outcomes after neonatal heart surgery are often attributable to a severe systemic inflammatory response to cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). CPB is necessary for most neonatal CHD surgeries. Therefore, to reduce the post-CPB inflammatory reaction, many surgeons administer pre-or intra-operative steroids. Steroids have been shown to reduce inflammatory markers after neonatal heart surgery. However, steroids also have potential harmful effects including an increased risk of post-operative infection. The recent SIRS trial evaluated the safety and efficacy of steroids after CPB in adults and demonstrated no beneficial effect of steroids but increased risk of post-CPB myocardial infarction and other major adverse events.
Adult trial results cannot be reliably extrapolated to neonates because the neonatal response to CPB is markedly different to that seen in adults; neonates demonstrate both a more pronounced inflammatory reaction and a different post-operative complication profile. For these reasons approximately 2/3rds of congenital heart surgeons continue to administer perioperative steroids to neonates undergoing heart surgery. Yet this practice is not evidence based as no safety/efficacy trial has ever evaluated steroids in neonates undergoing heart surgery with CPB. Several smaller steroid trials (all enrolling \< 75 patients) have focused on surrogate outcome measures, but none have provided conclusive data.
The major barrier to performing a steroid trial in neonates with CHD has been the high cost associated with trial conduct for these relatively rare defects. To overcome this barrier, the investigators will use a novel approach leveraging existing registry infrastructure at CHD surgical sites that participate in the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database (STS-CHSD). Sites participating in the STS-CHSD collect data into their institutional databases using standardized case report forms so that the data can be exported to the STS-CHSD. These sites already employ data coordinating specialists to capture patient demographics, procedural variables, and post-operative outcomes (including a list of over 60 complication variables) using strict and consistent data element definitions. By leveraging these site-specific resources the investigators project that the investigators can reduce trial costs by \>75%.
Background:
Some surgeons/centers currently administer perioperative high dose (20mg to 60mg) intravenous methylprednisolone before neonatal heart surgery with CPB. In a national registry study of \> 3000 neonates with data capture spanning 2004 to 2008, 62% of neonates undergoing surgery with CPB received perioperative methylprednisolone while 38% did not. Of those receiving methylprednisolone, 22% received methylprednisolone on both the day before, and day of surgery, 12% on the day before surgery only, and 28% on the day of surgery only. Results of a survey of surgeons from the Congenital Heart Surgeon's Society were similar; 28% did not routinely use steroids for neonatal heart surgery. Of the 72% that did routinely use steroids, \~1/3rd administered steroids pre-operatively and intra-operatively and the remainder gave intra-operative steroids only.
Several previous small translationally focused clinical trials have evaluated the safety and efficacy of methylprednisolone. In the largest contemporary trial, neonates scheduled for cardiac surgery were prospectively randomized to receive either 2-dose (8 hours preoperatively and operatively, n = 39) or single-dose (operatively, n = 37) methylprednisolone at 30 mg/kg IV per dose in a prospective double-blind trial. Neonates receiving pre-operative methylprednisolone therapy demonstrated significantly reduced pre-operative pro-inflammatory cytokines including interleukin-6 and 8. There were no differences between the two groups in post-operative pro-inflammatory markers and no differences in the incidence of post-operative low cardiac output syndrome. Methylprednisolone was well tolerated with no adverse drug reactions. The overall incidence of post-operative infection was 13% (10/76) and 4% (3/76) received a post-operative insulin infusion for hyperglycemia.
A meta-analysis evaluated six previous steroid trials in children undergoing heart surgery with CPB. The combined enrollment of these six trials was 232 participants including 116 receiving peri-operative steroids; two of these studies used methylprednisolone at doses of 30mg/kg IV per dose (n=67 patients). The results of this meta-analysis demonstrated a nonsignificant trend of reduced mortality in steroid-treated patients (11 \[4.7%\] vs 4 \[1.7%\] patients; odds ratio, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.14-1.15; p = 0.089). Steroids had no effects on mechanical ventilation time (117.4 ± 95.9 hr vs 137.3 ± 102.4 hr; p = 0.43) and ICU length of stay (9.6 ± 4.6 d vs 9.9 ± 5.9 d; p = 0.8). Perioperative steroid administration reduced the prevalence of renal dysfunction (13 \[54.2%\] vs 2 \[8%\] patients; odds ratio, 0.07; 95% CI, 0.01-0.38; p = 0.002). There were no significant differences in the adverse event profiles for patients receiving steroids versus placebo.
The conclusions of the aforementioned studies, as well as several associated editorials have all been that a large, randomized, controlled trial is needed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of perioperative steroids for neonatal heart surgery with CPB.
Design:
This study is a prospective, double-blind, multi-center, placebo-controlled safety and efficacy study of methylprednisolone in neonates undergoing heart surgery with CPB. The study will enroll up to 1500 neonates (\< 30 days of age) and the total study duration is expected to be approximately 48 months. An ancillary PK/PD/Biomarker study will enroll subjects at select centers. This study is unique in that it is designed to leverage existing registry infrastructure at participating sites so as to reduce trial costs. Participants will be randomized and will receive a randomization ID. This ID will also serve as a unique patient identifier allowing us to crosslink datasets. Participants will then receive two doses of study drug/placebo. The first dose will be administered 8 to 12 hours before anticipated heart surgery and the second dose will be administered into the pump prime during cardiopulmonary bypass. All study participants will then receive routine post-operative care. Participating centers will enter all demographic, preoperative, operative and outcomes data into their existing institutional databases for submission to the STS-CHSD as they currently do. These data will be used to evaluate trial outcomes.
Conditions
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Study Design
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RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
TREATMENT
QUADRUPLE
Study Groups
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Methylprednisolone Arm
IV Methylprednisolone
Methylprednisolone
IV Steroid pre-operative and intra-operative
Placebo Arm
IV Isotonic Saline
Isotonic saline
Isotonic saline pre-operative and intra-operative
Interventions
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Methylprednisolone
IV Steroid pre-operative and intra-operative
Isotonic saline
Isotonic saline pre-operative and intra-operative
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* Undergoing heart surgery with CPB as part of standard clinical care
* Availability and willingness of the parent/legally authorized representative to provide written informed consent
Exclusion Criteria
* Any oral or intravenous steroid treatment within two days of surgery
* Any patient receiving any of the following medications within 2 days of surgery:
Amphotericin B, aminoglutethimide, anticholinesterases, warfarin, P450 3A4 inducers including (but not limited to) carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, rifampin, bosentan and nafcillin or P450 3A4 inhibitors including (but not limited to) clarithromycin, voriconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, ciprofloxacin, diltiazem, fluconazole, erythromycin and verapamil.
* Infection contraindicating steroid use
* Preoperative mechanical circulatory support or active resuscitation at the time of randomization
* Emergent surgery precluding steroid administration 8-12 hours before surgery
12 Months
ALL
No
Sponsors
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National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)
NIH
Kevin Hill
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Kevin Hill
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Principal Investigators
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Kevin Hill
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
Duke University
Locations
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Children's Hospital of Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California, United States
University of Colorado, Denver
Aurora, Colorado, United States
University of Florida Health - Shands Hospital
Gainesville, Florida, United States
Ann & Robert Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Advocate Children's Hospital
Oak Lawn, Illinois, United States
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Children's Hospital and Clinics of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Children's Mercy Hospital
Kansas City, Missouri, United States
St. Louis Children's Hospital
St Louis, Missouri, United States
Children's Hospital and Medical Center
Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York Presbyterian
New York, New York, United States
University of Rochester Medical Center
Rochester, New York, United States
Duke University Medical Center
Durham, North Carolina, United States
Children's Hospital Medical Center
Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Nationwide Children's Hospital
Columbus, Ohio, United States
Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina, United States
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, Tennessee, United States
The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, Texas, United States
Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital
Houston, Texas, United States
Utah/Primary Children's Medical Center
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Medical College of Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
Countries
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References
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Ungerleider RM. Practice patterns in neonatal cardiopulmonary bypass. ASAIO J. 2005 Nov-Dec;51(6):813-5. doi: 10.1097/01.mat.0000183473.93237.10. No abstract available.
Petrini J, Damus K, Johnston RB Jr. An overview of infant mortality and birth defects in the United States. Teratology. 1997 Jul-Aug;56(1-2):8-10. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1096-9926(199707/08)56:1/23.0.CO;2-U. No abstract available.
Petrini J, Damus K, Russell R, Poschman K, Davidoff MJ, Mattison D. Contribution of birth defects to infant mortality in the United States. Teratology. 2002;66 Suppl 1:S3-6. doi: 10.1002/tera.90002.
Yang Q, Chen H, Correa A, Devine O, Mathews TJ, Honein MA. Racial differences in infant mortality attributable to birth defects in the United States, 1989-2002. Birth Defects Res A Clin Mol Teratol. 2006 Oct;76(10):706-13. doi: 10.1002/bdra.20308.
Yang Q, Khoury MJ, Mannino D. Trends and patterns of mortality associated with birth defects and genetic diseases in the United States, 1979-1992: an analysis of multiple-cause mortality data. Genet Epidemiol. 1997;14(5):493-505. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1098-2272(1997)14:53.0.CO;2-2.
Hoffman TM, Wernovsky G, Atz AM, Kulik TJ, Nelson DP, Chang AC, Bailey JM, Akbary A, Kocsis JF, Kaczmarek R, Spray TL, Wessel DL. Efficacy and safety of milrinone in preventing low cardiac output syndrome in infants and children after corrective surgery for congenital heart disease. Circulation. 2003 Feb 25;107(7):996-1002. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.0000051365.81920.28.
Parr GV, Blackstone EH, Kirklin JW. Cardiac performance and mortality early after intracardiac surgery in infants and young children. Circulation. 1975 May;51(5):867-74. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.51.5.867.
Wernovsky G, Wypij D, Jonas RA, Mayer JE Jr, Hanley FL, Hickey PR, Walsh AZ, Chang AC, Castaneda AR, Newburger JW, Wessel DL. Postoperative course and hemodynamic profile after the arterial switch operation in neonates and infants. A comparison of low-flow cardiopulmonary bypass and circulatory arrest. Circulation. 1995 Oct 15;92(8):2226-35. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.92.8.2226.
Wan S, LeClerc JL, Vincent JL. Inflammatory response to cardiopulmonary bypass: mechanisms involved and possible therapeutic strategies. Chest. 1997 Sep;112(3):676-92. doi: 10.1378/chest.112.3.676.
Ando M, Park IS, Wada N, Takahashi Y. Steroid supplementation: a legitimate pharmacotherapy after neonatal open heart surgery. Ann Thorac Surg. 2005 Nov;80(5):1672-8; discusison 1678. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2005.04.035.
Bronicki RA, Backer CL, Baden HP, Mavroudis C, Crawford SE, Green TP. Dexamethasone reduces the inflammatory response to cardiopulmonary bypass in children. Ann Thorac Surg. 2000 May;69(5):1490-5. doi: 10.1016/s0003-4975(00)01082-1.
Checchia PA, Backer CL, Bronicki RA, Baden HP, Crawford SE, Green TP, Mavroudis C. Dexamethasone reduces postoperative troponin levels in children undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass. Crit Care Med. 2003 Jun;31(6):1742-5. doi: 10.1097/01.CCM.0000063443.32874.60.
Clarizia NA, Manlhiot C, Schwartz SM, Sivarajan VB, Maratta R, Holtby HM, Gruenwald CE, Caldarone CA, Van Arsdell GS, McCrindle BW. Improved outcomes associated with intraoperative steroid use in high-risk pediatric cardiac surgery. Ann Thorac Surg. 2011 Apr;91(4):1222-7. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2010.11.005.
Graham EM, Atz AM, Butts RJ, Baker NL, Zyblewski SC, Deardorff RL, DeSantis SM, Reeves ST, Bradley SM, Spinale FG. Standardized preoperative corticosteroid treatment in neonates undergoing cardiac surgery: results from a randomized trial. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2011 Dec;142(6):1523-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2011.04.019. Epub 2011 May 20.
Graham EM, Atz AM, McHugh KE, Butts RJ, Baker NL, Stroud RE, Reeves ST, Bradley SM, McGowan FX Jr, Spinale FG. Preoperative steroid treatment does not improve markers of inflammation after cardiac surgery in neonates: results from a randomized trial. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2014 Mar;147(3):902-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2013.06.010. Epub 2013 Jul 16.
Toledo-Pereyra LH, Lin CY, Kundler H, Replogle RL. Steroids in heart surgery: a clinical double-blind and randomized study. Am Surg. 1980 Mar;46(3):155-60.
Graham EM. The utility of steroids in pediatric cardiac operations*. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2014 Jun;15(5):492-3. doi: 10.1097/PCC.0000000000000139. No abstract available.
Pasquali SK, Li JS, He X, Jacobs ML, O'Brien SM, Hall M, Jaquiss RD, Welke KF, Peterson ED, Shah SS, Gaynor JW, Jacobs JP. Perioperative methylprednisolone and outcome in neonates undergoing heart surgery. Pediatrics. 2012 Feb;129(2):e385-91. doi: 10.1542/peds.2011-2034. Epub 2012 Jan 23.
Garg AX, Vincent J, Cuerden M, Parikh C, Devereaux PJ, Teoh K, Yusuf S, Hildebrand A, Lamy A, Zuo Y, Sessler DI, Shah P, Abbasi SH, Quantz M, Yared JP, Noiseux N, Tagarakis G, Rochon A, Pogue J, Walsh M, Chan MT, Lamontagne F, Salehiomran A, Whitlock R; SIRS Investigators. Steroids In caRdiac Surgery (SIRS) trial: acute kidney injury substudy protocol of an international randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open. 2014 Mar 5;4(3):e004842. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2014-004842.
Scrascia G, Rotunno C, Guida P, Amorese L, Polieri D, Codazzi D, Paparella D. Perioperative steroids administration in pediatric cardiac surgery: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials*. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2014 Jun;15(5):435-42. doi: 10.1097/PCC.0000000000000128.
Jacobs ML, O'Brien SM, Jacobs JP, Mavroudis C, Lacour-Gayet F, Pasquali SK, Welke K, Pizarro C, Tsai F, Clarke DR. An empirically based tool for analyzing morbidity associated with operations for congenital heart disease. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2013 Apr;145(4):1046-1057.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2012.06.029. Epub 2012 Jul 24.
Hill KD, Koerner J, Hong H, Li JS, Hornik C, Kannankeril PJ, Jacobs JP, Baldwin HS, Jacobs ML, Graham EM, Blasiole B, Vener DF, Husain AS, Kumar SR, Benscoter A, Wald E, Karamlou T, Van Bergen AH, Overman D, Eghtesady P, Butts R, Kim JS, Scott JP, Anderson BR, Swartz MF, O'Brien SM. A Bayesian re-analysis of the STRESS trial. Am Heart J. 2026 Feb;292:107282. doi: 10.1016/j.ahj.2025.09.014. Epub 2025 Sep 25.
Hill KD, Kannankeril PJ, Jacobs JP, Baldwin HS, Jacobs ML, O'Brien SM, Bichel DP, Graham EM, Blasiole B, Resheidat A, Husain AS, Kumar SR, Kirchner JL, Gallup DS, Turek JW, Bleiweis M, Mettler B, Benscoter A, Wald E, Karamlou T, Van Bergen AH, Overman D, Eghtesady P, Butts R, Kim JS, Scott JP, Anderson BR, Swartz MF, McConnell PI, Vener DF, Li JS; STRESS Network Investigators. Methylprednisolone for Heart Surgery in Infants - A Randomized, Controlled Trial. N Engl J Med. 2022 Dec 8;387(23):2138-2149. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2212667. Epub 2022 Nov 6.
Gibbison B, Villalobos Lizardi JC, Aviles Martinez KI, Fudulu DP, Medina Andrade MA, Perez-Gaxiola G, Schadenberg AW, Stoica SC, Lightman SL, Angelini GD, Reeves BC. Prophylactic corticosteroids for paediatric heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020 Oct 12;10(10):CD013101. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD013101.pub2.
Hill KD, Baldwin HS, Bichel DP, Butts RJ, Chamberlain RC, Ellis AM, Graham EM, Hickerson J, Hornik CP, Jacobs JP, Jacobs ML, Jaquiss RD, Kannankeril PJ, O'Brien SM, Torok R, Turek JW, Li JS; STRESS Network Investigators. Rationale and design of the STeroids to REduce Systemic inflammation after infant heart Surgery (STRESS) trial. Am Heart J. 2020 Feb;220:192-202. doi: 10.1016/j.ahj.2019.11.016. Epub 2019 Dec 9.
Provided Documents
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Document Type: Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan
Document Type: Informed Consent Form
Related Links
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United States Food and Drug Administration: Pediatric Study Plans: Content of and Process for Submitting Initial Pediatric Study Plans and Amended Initial Pediatric Study Plans Guidance for Industry (Draft).
Other Identifiers
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Pro00078106
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id
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