A Phase 3 interventional study of HBOT in Hyperbaric chamber and Hyperbaric chamber for placebo in Sickle Cell Disease, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and Vaso-occlusive Crisis, sponsored by University Hospital, Geneva. Recruiting at 3 sites in 2 countries. Open to participants aged 8 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2022-11-02.
Sponsored by University Hospital, Geneva · Phase 3, Interventional, and Treatment
This is a randomised, controlled, double-blind, placebo trial of HBOT (intervention) superiority in the treatment of VOC in SCD, to demonstrate the effectiveness of HBOT for the decrease in pain level in the treatment of SCD-VOC.
Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is one of the most common genetic diseases in the world, affecting approximately 310,000 births each year and causing >100,000 deaths. Vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) is the most frequent complication of SCD, leading to bone pain, thoracic pain and/or abdominal spasms and is the main cause of death in patients with SCD. It is linked to sickling which is often triggered by internal and external environmental conditions such as acidosis, cold, dehydration, hyperthermia, infection and especially hypoxia. Sickling is initially reversible if local oxygenation supply and conditions are improved.
Rationale: The use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) should enable the patient's tissues to receive the extra oxygen necessary by increasing the amount of dissolved O2 in blood which in turn would limit sickling. A pilot study of 9 patients showed the potential positive effects of HBOT on VOC induced pain. International guidelines indicate that SCD-induced VOC is one of the potential indications for HBOT, even though the evidence available is weak.
Aim and objectives: To demonstrate the analgesic effect of HBOT for VOC and to analyse the procedure's safety, impact on the biological markers of SCD-induced VOC, progression of SCD and cost-effectiveness.
Methodology: This study will be a multicentric, double-blind, randomised controlled trial. Any patient presenting at one of the participating centres' Emergency Departments (EDs) with VOC is eligible to be evaluated, included and randomized. Inclusion criteria: Patients aged 8 years or over with a major SCD, having a VOC non-responsive to level 2 analgesics (WHO classification), with or without Acute Chest Syndrome (ACS). Exclusion criteria: Pregnancy, indication for artificial ventilation, proven contraindication for HBO, blood velocity > 200 cm/sec previously measured with transcranial Doppler, previous history of stroke, patient requiring more than 2 l/min of normobaric oxygen in order to achieve an SpO2 (peripheral oxygen saturation) ≥ 92%. Patients with exclusion criteria, although precluded from the randomisation process, will however be eligible to undergo the HBOT intervention and become part of the cohort. Measurements and procedures: In all cases, included patients will receive usual care for VOC, including hydration, analgesics (patient-controlled analgesia with morphine), normobaric oxygen therapy and where medically indicated, antibiotic therapy and/or transfusions. Within 4 to 12 hours of their initial consultation at their hospital's ED, patients who have agreed to participate in the study will be randomised between the HBOT intervention group (2 Atmosphere Absolute pressure [ATA], 95 min, FIO2 = 1) and the placebo group (1.3 ATA, 95 min, FIO2 = 0.21). Patients will undergo a first session in the hyperbaric chamber and then return to their ward. The second (and third) session (for both groups) will systematically take place within 24 h (max. 36 h) of the first session. If the visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score is ≤ 2 without the use of level 3 analgesics at the standard dosage, subsequent sessions will be cancelled. Difference in the visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score before and after HBOT and other outcomes will be compared between the intervention and placebo groups. A superiority of HBOT compared placebo group in VOC should be demonstrated, with decrease of pain, length of stay and cost.
Expected results and their impact: Expected benefits of HBOT are the reduction of: pain experienced, duration of the crisis, number of transfusions required, the number of morphine doses, reduction of length of stay and reduction in the frequency of ACSs and VOCs.
1,103 studies on the registry are indexed under Anemia, Sickle Cell; 235 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 100 is above the median of 40 across 750 interventional studies indexed under Anemia, Sickle Cell.
Browse Anemia, Sickle Cell studies →University Hospital, Geneva is the lead sponsor of 372 studies on the registry; 68 are open to participants now.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is the administration of oxygen at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure (2 ATA). By breathing pure oxygen at twice the atmospheric pressure, its concentration in the blood is multiplied by nearly ten times. This allows a greater oxygen concentration in poorly vascularised areas of the body.
Device: HBOT in Hyperbaric chamber
Hyperbaric chamber is the same chamber used for HBOT, but with a limited hyperpressure (1.3 ATA) and using ambient air (FIO2=0.21), with illusion of treatment in healthy volunteers.
Device: Hyperbaric chamber for placebo
HBOT is the administration of oxygen (FIO2 = 100%) at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure (2 ATA). The pressure increase is achieved by introducing compressed air into the hyperbaric chamber. This study will use a hyperbaric chamber that is already marketed, licensed and used in other diseases.
Also known as: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Hyperbaric chamber is the same chamber used for HBOT, but here with a limited hyperpressure (1.3 ATA) and using ambient air (FIO2=0.21), with illusion of treatment in healthy volunteers. All other aspects of the procedure are identical to those of the intervention. As in the intervention arm, there will be a compression period (although shorter), of 5 min, followed by 85 min at 1.3 ATA, then a decompression period of 5 min (total duration of 95 min).
Also known as: Placebo Comparator
Change from baseline of visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score
The visual analog scale (VAS) pain score is a validated, subjective measure for acute and chronic pain. Scores are recorded by making a handwritten mark on a 10-cm line that represents a continuum between "no pain" (0) and "worst pain" (10). Change = (Hour 6 VAS score - Baseline VAS score) ; Difference in the global visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score evaluated immediately before (in the ED ; H0) and 6 hrs after (on the ward) the HBO therapy/placebo session (H6).
Time frame: Baseline (before HBOT session ; H0) and 6th hour after the start of the HBOT session (H6)
Change from baseline of a number of patients with composite outcome (VAS pain score >4 and/or mean morphine dosage > 1mg/h IV)
The visual analog scale (VAS) pain score is a validated, subjective measure for acute and chronic pain. Scores are recorded by making a handwritten mark on a 10-cm line that represents a continuum between "no pain" (0) and "worst pain" (10). Change = Number of patient with composite score at H6 - Number of patient with composite score at H0.
Time frame: Baseline (before HBOT session ; H0) and 6th hour after the start of the HBOT session (H6)
Change from baseline of the mean morphine dosage treatment (mg/h IV) at H6
Change in mean hourly concentration dosage of morphine between the mean concentration before HBOT Session (H0) and the mean concentration during the 4 hours after session (H6) \[morphine concentration during session (2 hours) is not included in the calculation\]. In case of treatment with oral morphine, an equivalent of IV doses will be used.
Time frame: Baseline (before HBOT session ; H0) and 6th hour after the start of the HBOT session (H6)
Change from baseline of the mean morphine dosage treatment (mg/h IV) at H24
Change in mean hourly concentration dosage of morphine between the mean concentration before HBOT Session (H0) and the mean concentration during the 22 hours after session (H24) \[morphine concentration during session (2 hours) is not included in the calculation\]. In case of treatment with oral morphine, an equivalent of IV doses will be used.
Time frame: Baseline (before HBOT session ; H0) and 24th hour after the start of the HBOT session (H24)
time to discontinuation of IV opioids
Time between admission and discontinuation of intra-venous opioids, during hospitalisation before discharge and/or rehabilitation transfer
Time frame: From admission date until discharge date (up to 1 month)
length of hospital stay
Number of days between admission and hospital discharge
Time frame: From admission date until discharge date (up to 1 month)
Number of patients experiencing relief from pain (ie reduction of VAS>30%) at Hour 6
The visual analog scale (VAS) pain score is a validated, subjective measure for acute and chronic pain. Scores are recorded by making a handwritten mark on a 10-cm line that represents a continuum between "no pain" (0) and "worst pain" (10). Number of patient with decreasing of VAS pain score\>30% between Hour 6 and baseline (before HBOT session ; H0).
Time frame: 6th hour after the start of the HBOT session (H6)
Number of patients experiencing relief from pain (ie reduction of VAS>30%) at Hour 24
The visual analog scale (VAS) pain score is a validated, subjective measure for acute and chronic pain. Scores are recorded by making a handwritten mark on a 10-cm line that represents a continuum between "no pain" (0) and "worst pain" (10). Number of patient with decreasing of VAS pain score\>30% between Hour 24 and baseline (before HBOT session ; H0)
Time frame: 24th hour after the start of the HBOT session (H24)
Patient's "global impression of change"
The self-report measure Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) reflects a patient's belief about the efficacy of treatment. PGIC is a 7 point scale depicting a patient's rating of overall improvement. Patients rate their change as "very much improved," "much improved," "minimally improved," "no change," "minimally worse," "much worse," or "very much worse."
Time frame: 6th hour (H6) and 24th hour (H24) after the start of the HBOT session
time until end of VOC (Vaso-occlusive crisis)
Time (number of hours) until VOC is finished. VOC is terminated when VAS\<2, in the absence of painkillers of level III. The visual analog scale (VAS) pain score is a validated, subjective measure for acute and chronic pain. Scores are recorded by making a handwritten mark on a 10-cm line that represents a continuum between "no pain" (0) and "worst pain" (10).
Time frame: From admission date until discharge date (up to 1 month)
Number of transfusion therapies during hospitalization
indications for and implementation of transfusion therapies during hospitalization
Time frame: From admission date until discharge date (up to 1 month)
Number and type of complications
notably Acute Chest Syndrome, priapism, stroke or other
Time frame: From inclusion date, up to one year after baseline (HBOT session)
Lactate Dehydrogenase dosage in blood sample
In unit/L. reported at each dosage, during hospitalisation
Time frame: From admission date until discharge date (up to 1 month)
C-reactive protein (CRP) in blood sample
In mg/L
Time frame: From admission date until discharge date (up to 1 month)
Number of patients with readiness discharge
readiness for discharge as judged by the patient or physician
Time frame: From admission date until discharge date (up to 1 month)
Number of new hospitalisations
further hospitalisations during the following year
Time frame: During one year after hospitalisation
treatment costs
Cost of the strategy with HBOT session or placebo
Time frame: From admission date until discharge date (up to 1 month)
Number of patients with death
death during hospitalization or after discharge
Time frame: During one year after hospitalisation
Plan to share: No
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