Background

Hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy is associated with development of cerebral palsy and cognitive disability later in life [1]. The recognition, prevention and treatment of intra-uterine hypoxia is therefore one of the main priorities in perinatal medicine. Animal and human studies have shown that brain damage not only occurs during the hypoxic-ischaemic event, but continues for hours up to days upon and after reoxygenation and reperfusion and is caused by production of free radicals [2].

Free radical formation due to conversion of hypoxanthine into xanthine by xanthine-oxidase is very important during this process [3]. Administration of the xanthine-oxidase inhibitor allopurinol (ALLO) reduces the production of free radicals, thereby limiting the amount of hypoxia-reperfusion damage [4, 5]. Furthermore, ALLO also has a non-protein bound iron (pro-radical) chelating and direct free radical (hydroxyl) scavenging effect. Animal research in asphyxiated pigs demonstrated beneficial effects of postnatally administrated ALLO on cerebral energy status and cytotoxic oedema [6].

A prospective randomized study in human neonates, examining the effects of ALLO in term asphyxiated neonates, showed an improvement of electrocortical brain activity and a reduction in free radical formation after neonatal ALLO administration [7]. A more recent paper by Gunes et al [8] reports an improved neurological outcome after postnatal ALLO administration compared to a placebo in term asphyxiated neonates. Benders et al however demonstrated that ALLO was not effective if administrated 3 to 4 hours after the hypoxic incident to severely asphyxiated neonates [9]. However, when the most severely asphyxiated children were excluded from the study, a beneficial effect of ALLO was seen on neurological development. This is in line with previous studies by Gluckman et al on neonatal head cooling [10]. They also demonstrated a beneficial effect of their treatment after exclusion of the most severely asphyxiated neonates. Apparently, no advantage of neonatal treatment is seen anymore, when the interval to the initiation of treatment is too long or when the brain damage is too severe. This has probably been the major disadvantage of late post neonatal treatment with ALLO on the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). ALLO administrated at the NICU is likely to be given too late to provide adequate neuroprotection during the early period of reoxygenation in which the vast amount of free radicals is being produced.

Apparently, when the asphyxia has been too severe, the inflicted brain damage can no longer be reversed. It is conceivable that earlier ALLO treatment, i.e. the use of ALLO during labour in case of suspected foetal hypoxia, provides the opportunity to start earlier with the treatment, thereby limiting the amount of hypoxia-reperfusion injury and improving neurological outcome.

Pharmacological data have been published by Boda et al, who showed that pharmacological plasma levels were reached in the human foetus after ALLO administration to the mother [11]. A systematic review in Pubmed, searching for [allopurinol, foetus, neonate, asphyxia, hypoxia] did not provide us with any additional studies performed in humans. Some animal studies have been performed using piglets (neonatal administration), sheep and sows (maternal administration) [6, 12–14]. These studies showed improved outcome after allopurinol treatment on cerebral energy status and recovery of umbilical blood flow respectively.

We recently performed a prospective randomized placebo controlled pilot study, in which we administered ALLO to the pregnant woman when foetal asphyxia was imminent. Data from this pilot study show an inverse correlation between levels of ALLO and the amount of S100B, a biomarker for brain tissue damage, in cord blood [15]. In addition, we performed a study in the chronically instrumented foetal sheep, in which we showed evidence of cardio- and neuroprotection after antenatal ALLO administration to the pregnant ewe during repeated periods of ischaemia [13, 16].

Incidence and financial impact of birth asphyxia

Birth asphyxia carries a high incidence, 4-9 per 1000 live born neonates. On estimate 1-4 of these neonates will die or develop a severe handicap [17, 18]. With almost 200.000 deliveries in the Netherlands annually, this implicates that each year approximately 800 neonates will die or suffer from a handicap due to birth asphyxia. Moreover, there is evidence that individuals suffering from moderate birth asphyxia, develop behavioural problems later in life [19].

The health care costs of asphyxia are enormous. Many of these children are admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit at a cost of € 1.500, - per day, with an average duration of admission of 10 days. Estimated costs of disabled children are € 80.000, - and € 20.000, - yearly for severely and moderately handicapped children respectively. The costs of neonatal care are annually 20 million Euros, whereas the costs of care for disabled children born in one year are more than one hundred million Euros.

As the costs of ALLO and its administration are relatively low (100 Euros per pregnant woman), a small treatment effect will already make the intervention cost-effective.

Safety of allopurinol

Allopurinol has been used in internal medicine for many years for the treatment of gout. Side effects of ALLO are rare and most commonly include symptoms of hypersensitivity like skin rashes [20]. Stevens-Johnson syndrome has been reported, but only after prolonged treatment (> 10 days) in case of gout [21]. During previously performed studies in pregnant women and neonates, no adverse reactions were seen [11, 15, 22, 23].

Methods/Design

Aims

The objective of the study is to test the hypothesis that intra-uterine treatment with ALLO in case of suspected foetal hypoxia will reduce brain damage and with that may improve neonatal outcome.

Participants/eligibility criteria

Pregnant women with a gestational age of at least 36 weeks and suspected intra-uterine hypoxia (foetal distress) during labour can be included in the trial. Foetal distress is being diagnosed by the clinician as an abnormal or non-reassuring foetal heart rate trace, preferably accompanied by either significant ST-wave abnormalities (as detected by the STAN-monitor) or an abnormal foetal blood scalp sampling (pH < 7.20). Neonates suspected of chromosomal or congenital anomalies will be excluded.

Procedures, recruitment, randomization and collection of baseline data

The study will be a randomized double blind placebo controlled multicenter study. Hospitals which participate in the Dutch Consortium for Studies in Women's health and reproductivity will participate in the trial. The study will be staffed by research midwives and -nurses, who will counsel patients at the outpatient clinic or at the obstetric ward.

Before entry into the study, subjects will be informed about the aims, methods, reasonably anticipated benefits and potential hazards of the study. Subjects will be informed that their participation is voluntary and that they may withdraw consent to participate at any time during the study. They will be informed that choosing not to participate will not affect their care. In every center an independent gynaecologist will be available for more detailed information both for patients and colleagues if required. After giving sufficient information, written informed consent will be obtained. The consent form must be signed before performance of any study-related activity.

In case of suspected foetal distress and written informed consent, the patient will be randomized immediately prior to delivery (Figure 1).

Figure 1
figure 1

Flowchart ALLO-trial.

Full size image

All details of delivery are recorded in the case record form that is accessible through a website http://www.studies-obsgyn.nl/allo. In case of admittance of one or more children to the neonatal intensive care unit, details of this admittance are also recorded.

Data will be collected using Oracle Clinical Remote Data Capture (RDC), which is a new generation of application systems that enable collection and cleanup of clinical trial data using the Internet. For detailed information on Oracle RDC see http://www.ctc-g.co.jp/~CTCLS/opa/en/. The expertise for this technology is already used in the study group and applied in the ZonMw funded consortium studies that are currently running.

Interventions

All women who are identified as having suspected foetal distress and have given informed consent prior to delivery will be randomized in two groups:

One group of pregnant women will receive one IV dosage of 500 mg ALLO. The other group will receive one IV dosage of placebo antenatally.

Outcome measures

Primary outcome measures are related to biochemical brain damage markers (S100B, enolase) and the severity of oxidative stress as measured by isoprostane, neuroprostane, non protein bound iron and hypoxanthine in umbilical cord blood.

The main primary outcome measure will be the protein S100B as this is, at present, the most validated biochemical marker for brain tissue damage.

Secondary outcome parameters are neonatal mortality and short term neonatal morbidity, such as hypoglycaemia, convulsions and post-hypoxic neonatal encephalopathy, length of admission at the neonatal intensive care unit and placental transfer, pharmacodynamics and -kinetics of ALLO. Neonatal encephalopathy will be assessed by Sarnat- and Thompson scores [24, 25].

Follow up of women and infants

Blood sampling will be performed to assess the amount of tissue damage (i.e. S100B, enolase, troponin), oxidative stress (i.e hypoxanthine, isoprostane, neuroprostane and non protein bound iron) and ALLO plasma levels. Immediately after delivery, samples of cord blood and maternal blood are obtained. One hour and 18-24 hours after birth neonatal blood samples are obtained in all children with clinically indicated blood sampling.

Long-term follow-up using neuropsychological tests and validated neurodevelopmental questionnaires at the age of 4-5 and 8 years and additional MRI at the age of 8 years is desirable, but is depending on future funding.

Statistical issues

Sample size

The sample size is calculated based on the primary outcome measure cord-S100B as a marker of brain damage. Our own pilot study showed a mean value of S100B of 1.05 ug/L (SD 0.37 ug/L) in the 'non-treated' group with suspected intra-uterine hypoxia. Based on this same pilot study we expect the mean value of S100B to be lower in the 'allopurinol-treated' group compared to the 'non-treated group'.

Based on the accrual of patients in our pilot study we consider an inclusion of 220 patients (110 ALLO, 110 placebo) to be feasible in an inclusion period of 2 years. Given a suspected mean value of S100B of 1.05 ug/L (SD 0.37 ug/L) in the placebo group this trial has a power of 90% with an alpha of 0.05 to detect a mean value of S100B of 0.89 ug/L (SD 0.37 ug/L) in the 'allopurinol-treated' group (z-test2-sided)[15].

Data analysis

Data will be analyzed according to the intention to treat principle. Outcome measures will be analyzed with (non)parametric tests where continuous variables are concerned. Proportional data will be reported as relative risks with 95% confidence intervals. Multivariable regression techniques will be applied to correct for any important differences in prognostic baseline characteristics, despite of randomization, by adding all prognostic variables as independent variables. Both corrected and uncorrected group differences will be reported. Numbers needed to treat (NNT) will be reported for both continuous and discrete data.

Interim analysis

An interim analysis will be performed at t = 0.5 using O'Brien -Fleming alpha spending function. An interim analysis will be performed after the inclusion of 110 women. This analysis will be done by an independent person that will be unaware of the allocation of treatment or placebo when they judge data on effectiveness.

Data safety monitoring committee

Serious Adverse Events (SAEs) and Suspected Unexpected Serious Adverse Reactions (SUSARs) will be reported to a Data Safety Monitoring Committee (DSMC). The DSMC can order to perform an extra interim analysis and, if indicated, terminate the trial prematurely.

Ethical considerations

This study is approved by the National Central Committee on Research involving Human Subjects (CCMO - NL26516.000.09).

Discussion

In conclusion, hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy is associated with development of cerebral palsy and cognitive disability later in life and is therefore one of the fundamental problems in perinatal medicine. Prevention of brain damage and developing adequate therapy is therefore of big importance. The xanthine-oxidase inhibitor allopurinol (ALLO) reduces free radical formation, thereby limiting the amount of hypoxia-reperfusion damage. Animal and human studies suggest that administration of ALLO immediately prior to delivery in case of suspected foetal asphyxia might reduce hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy. We designed a randomized placebo controlled multicenter trial to determine whether intra-uterine treatment with allopurinol reduces hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy in neonates exposed to foetal hypoxia.

To our knowledge no similar studies are or will shortly be performed in the Netherlands or abroad.