Remote Ischaemic Conditioning in STEMI Patients in AFRICA

NCT ID: NCT04813159

Last Updated: 2025-04-03

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

1400 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2022-01-12

Study Completion Date

2027-12-31

Brief Summary

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The RIC-AFRICA trial is a multi-centre, sham-controlled, randomised controlled trial (RCT) involving 1400 ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients presenting within ≤ 24 hours of myocardial infarction (MI) onset, across approximately 25 sites in 7 African countries (South Africa, Kenya, Sudan, Uganda, Mozambique, Senegal and Mauritius). Patients presenting with STEMI and deemed ineligible for the RIC AFRICA RCT because they present \>24 hours from MI onset but less than 72 hours, will be recruited into the observational arm of the study with the same endpoints as the trial. The purpose of the RCT is to determine whether Remote Ischaemic Conditioning (RIC) can reduce the rates of all-cause death and early post-myocardial heart failure at 30-days in STEMI patients treated predominantly with thrombolytic therapy.

Detailed Description

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Background:

Remote ischaemic conditioning (RIC) using transient limb ischaemia and reperfusion has been shown to reduce myocardial infarct size in animal studies and small proof-of-concept clinical studies in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. However, RIC failed to improve clinical outcomes in the large European CONDI-2/ERIC-PPCI multi-centre randomised clinical trial. Potential reasons for this failure include the low-risk patients recruited into the study and the fact that patients received timely and optimal reperfusion therapy by primary percutaneous coronary intervention. The RIC-AFRICA trial will investigate whether RIC can improve clinical outcomes in higher-risk STEMI patients treated by thrombolysis in Africa.

Study design:

The RIC-AFRICA trial is a multi-centre, sham-controlled, randomised controlled trial (RCT) involving 1400 ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients presenting within ≤ 24 hours of myocardial infarction (MI) onset, across approximately 20 sites in 7 African countries (South Africa, Kenya, Sudan, Uganda, Mozambique, Senegal and Mauritius). Patients will be randomised to receive either RIC or sham control initiated prior to thrombolysis and applied daily for the next 2 days. The RIC protocol will comprise four 5-minute cycles of inflation (to 20mmHg above systolic blood pressure) and deflation of an automated pneumatic cuff placed on the upper arm. The sham control protocol will comprise four 5-minute cycles of low-pressure inflation (to 20mmHg) and deflation by a visually identical pneumatic cuff. The primary composite endpoint will be all-cause death and new-onset heart failure at 30-days post STEMI. Patients presenting with STEMI and deemed ineligible for the RIC AFRICA RCT because they present \>24 hours from MI onset but less than 72 hours, will be recruited into the observational arm of the study with the same endpoints as the trial.

Implications:

The RIC-AFRICA trial will determine whether RIC can reduce rates of death and prevent heart failure in higher-risk STEMI patients treated by thrombolytic therapy in Africa, thereby potentially providing a low-cost, non-invasive therapy for improving health outcomes.

Conditions

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STEMI Remote Ischaemic Conditioning Myocardial Reperfusion Injury

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Consented participants presenting with STEMI within 24 hours and who fulfil the study's eligibility criteria will be assigned a participant identification number and randomised to receive either RIC or sham control in a 1:1 ratio to ensure equal distribution amongst experimental arm. Randomisation will be conducted via a secure website and will be stratified by recruiting centre and patient stratum to ensure that a minimum of 2 participants in stratum 1 (eligible for thrombolysis and within \<12 hours of MI onset) are recruited for every participant in stratum 2 (ineligible for thrombolysis because they present outside of guideline-recommended time (\<12 hours) but presenting within 24 hours of most severe chest pain onset). The patient, treating clinician, study investigator and research team analysing the data will be blinded to the treatment allocation. Study intervention will be applied by the research nurse who will not have any further contact with the participant or trial.
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

QUADRUPLE

Participants Caregivers Investigators Outcome Assessors
The patient, treating clinician, study investigator and research team analysing the data will be blinded to the treatment allocation. Study intervention will be applied by the research nurse who will not have any further contact with the participant or trial.

Study Groups

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Remote Ischaemic Conditioning (RIC)

Consented STEMI participants presenting \< 24 hours who are randomised to the RIC protocol, will receive blood pressure cuff inflation by the automated RIC blood pressure device to 20 mmHg above systolic blood pressure for 5 minutes and deflation for a further 5 minutes, a cycle which will be completed four times in total. The RIC protocol will be repeated daily for the next 2 days.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Remote Ischaemic Conditioning (RIC)

Intervention Type DEVICE

The RIC protocol will comprise inflation of the automated RIC device to 20 mmHg above systolic blood pressure for 5 minutes and deflation for a further 5 minutes, a cycle which will be completed four times in total. The RIC protocol will be repeated daily for the next 2 days.

Sham-control

Consented STEMI participants presenting \< 24 hours who are randomised to the sham protocol will receive low-pressure cuff inflation to 20 mmHg for 5 minutes and deflation for a further 5 minutes, a cycle which will be completed four times in total by a visually identical pneumatic cuff. The sham control protocol will be repeated daily for the next 2 days.

Group Type SHAM_COMPARATOR

Sham-control

Intervention Type DEVICE

The sham protocol will comprise low-pressure inflation to 20 mmHg for 5 minutes and deflation for a further 5 minutes, a cycle which will be completed four times in total by a visually identical pneumatic cuff used in the active arm. The sham control protocol will be repeated daily for the next 2 days.

Observational

Consented STEMI participants presenting \> 24 hours but within 72 hours of MI onset will be recruited into the observational arm of the study which will have the same study endpoints as the RCT. These participants will not be randomised or receive any trial intervention.

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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Remote Ischaemic Conditioning (RIC)

The RIC protocol will comprise inflation of the automated RIC device to 20 mmHg above systolic blood pressure for 5 minutes and deflation for a further 5 minutes, a cycle which will be completed four times in total. The RIC protocol will be repeated daily for the next 2 days.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Sham-control

The sham protocol will comprise low-pressure inflation to 20 mmHg for 5 minutes and deflation for a further 5 minutes, a cycle which will be completed four times in total by a visually identical pneumatic cuff used in the active arm. The sham control protocol will be repeated daily for the next 2 days.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

3. Adult patients (≥18 years old) presenting with evidence of STEMI who do not receive thrombolysis and who present ≥24 hours and within 72 hours of most severe chest pain onset.

Interventional arm of the Study: Randomized Control Trial


I. Adult patients (≥18 years old) presenting with suspected STEMI (ST-elevation at the J-point in two contiguous leads ( ≥ 0.2mV in men or ≥ 0.15mV in women in leads V2-V3 and/or ≥ 0.1mV in other lead); and II. Within 24 hours of onset of myocardial infarction as deemed by the attending clinician; and III. Signed informed consent.


I. Signed informed consent; and

II. Clinical evidence of STEMI older than 24 hours and less than 72 hours as defined by:

1. Compatible history with maximal chest pain between 24 -72 hours prior to presentation; and
2. Compatible biomarkers (elevated cardiac troponin); and
3. ECG compatible with recent STEMI; and/or
4. Compatible echocardiography.

Exclusion Criteria

I. STEMI patients due to undergo primary percutaneous coronary intervention;

II. STEMI patients presenting with cardiogenic shock or haemodynamic instability as defined by: systolic blood pressure (SBP) measurement of \<90 mm Hg for ≥30 minutes; or use of pharmacological and/or mechanical support to maintain SBP ≥ 90 mm Hg; and evidence of end-organ damage defined by: urine output of \<30 mL/h; altered mental status; and/or serum lactate \>2.0 mmol/L;

III. Contraindications for the use of RIC or sham-control on either arm such as:

1. severe active skin disease/burns on both arms; or
2. bilateral upper limb amputations; or
3. evidence of acute limb ischaemia on either arm; or
4. active upper limb gangrene of any digits;
5. breast cancer with lymph-node involvement on the ipsilateral side of RIC; or
6. bilateral arteriovenous fistulae needed for haemodialysis.

IV. Inter-current disease with an expected life expectancy of less than 24 hours;

V. Contra-indication to thrombolytic therapy in patients presenting within guideline-recommended time (\<12 hours).

Observational arm of the study



I. Refusal or inability to sign informed consent.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Groote Schuur Hospital, South Africa

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

Uganda Heart Institute

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Mombasa Hospital, Kenya

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

Coast General Teaching Hospital, Kenya

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

Kenyatta National Hospital

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role collaborator

Al Shaab Teaching Hospital, Sudan

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

Sudan Heart Centre, Sudan

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

Aliaa Specialist Hospital, Sudan

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

Medani Heart Centre, Sudan

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

Al Saha Specialised Hospital, Sudan

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

Omdurman Hospital, Sudan

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

Victoria Hospital, South Africa

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

George Hospital, South Africa

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

Charlotte Maxeke Hospital, South Africa

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

Tshepong Hospital, South Africa

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

Wentworth Hospital, South Africa

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

Grey's Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Universitas Academic Hospital, South Africa

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

University College, London

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Royal Care international Hospital, Sudan

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

Nairobi West Hospital, Kenya

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Cape Town

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Mpiko Ntsekhe

Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Mpiko Ntsekhe, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Cape Town

Derek Hausenloy, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Hatter Cardiovascular Institute

Derek Yellon, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Hatter Cardiovascular Institute

Malcolm Walker, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Hatter Cardiovascular Institute

Locations

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Coast General Teaching Hospital

Mombasa, Mombasa County, Kenya

Site Status RECRUITING

Mombasa Hospital

Mombasa, Mombasa County, Kenya

Site Status RECRUITING

Kenyatta National Hospital

Nairobi, Nairobi County, Kenya

Site Status RECRUITING

Nairobi West hospital

Nairobi, , Kenya

Site Status RECRUITING

Hospital Central de Mpauto

Maputo, , Mozambique

Site Status RECRUITING

Hopital Principal de Dakar

Dakar, , Senegal

Site Status RECRUITING

Charlotte Maxeke Hospital

Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

Site Status RECRUITING

Wentworth Hospital

Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Site Status RECRUITING

Tshepong Hospital

Klerksdorp, North West, South Africa

Site Status RECRUITING

Mitchell's Plain District Hospital

Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

Site Status RECRUITING

Groote Schuur Hospital

Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

Site Status RECRUITING

Victoria Hospital

Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

Site Status RECRUITING

George Hospital

George, Western Cape, South Africa

Site Status RECRUITING

Al Saha Specialised Hospital

Khartoum, Khartoum State, Sudan

Site Status RECRUITING

Al Shaab Teaching Hospital

Khartoum, Khartoum State, Sudan

Site Status RECRUITING

Sudan Heart Centre

Khartoum, Khartoum State, Sudan

Site Status RECRUITING

The Royal Care International Hospital

Khartoum, Khartoum State, Sudan

Site Status RECRUITING

Aliaa Specialist Hospital

Omdurman, Omdurman, Sudan

Site Status RECRUITING

Medani Heart Centre

Wad Medani, , Sudan

Site Status RECRUITING

Uganda Heart Institute

Kampala, Kampala, Uganda

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Kenya Mozambique Senegal South Africa Sudan Uganda

Central Contacts

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Kishal Lukhna, MBChB

Role: CONTACT

+27732515380

Sara Giesz

Role: CONTACT

+44(0)20 3447 9888

Facility Contacts

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Keiran Mwazo, MBChB

Role: primary

Vickie Mumbo, MBChB

Role: backup

Abdullah A Bajaber, MBChB

Role: primary

Elijah Ogola, PhD

Role: primary

Elijah Elijah, PhD

Role: primary

Neusa Jensen, MBCHB, PhD

Role: primary

Cherif Mboup, MBCHB, PHD

Role: primary

Arthur Mutyab, MBChB

Role: primary

+27724267928

Mergan Naidoo, PhD

Role: primary

+27835005334

Alistair Calver, MBChB

Role: primary

Ebrahim Variava, MBChB

Role: backup

Katya Evans, MBCHB

Role: primary

Kishal Lukhna, MBChB

Role: primary

+27732515380

Mpiko Ntsekhe, PhD

Role: backup

Nasief Van Der Schyff, MBChB

Role: primary

+27721910835

Trevor Gould, MBChB

Role: primary

+27837741212

Mohamed E Elfadl Abdelhameed, MBChB

Role: primary

Awad Mohamed, PhD

Role: primary

Eltayeb Hamid, MBChB

Role: backup

Abdelbagi S Ali, MBChB

Role: primary

Awad A Mohamed, PhD

Role: primary

Ehab Ali Elmakki, MBChB

Role: primary

Omaima Abozaid, MBChB

Role: primary

Emmy Okello, MBChB

Role: primary

Brian Kiggundu, MBChB

Role: backup

References

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Lukhna K, Hausenloy DJ, Ali AS, Bajaber A, Calver A, Mutyaba A, Mohamed AA, Kiggundu B, Chishala C, Variava E, Elmakki EA, Ogola E, Hamid E, Okello E, Gaafar I, Mwazo K, Makotoko M, Naidoo M, Abdelhameed ME, Badri M, van der Schyff N, Abozaid O, Xafis P, Giesz S, Gould T, Welgemoed W, Walker M, Ntsekhe M, Yellon DM. Remote Ischaemic Conditioning in STEMI Patients in Sub-Saharan AFRICA: Rationale and Study Design for the RIC-AFRICA Trial. Cardiovasc Drugs Ther. 2023 Apr;37(2):299-305. doi: 10.1007/s10557-021-07283-y. Epub 2021 Nov 5.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 34739648 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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RIC AFRICA

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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