Hyperhydration in Children With Shiga Toxin-Producing E. Coli Infection (HIKO-STEC)

University of Calgary

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome; Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia Coli (E. Coli) Infection

Treatments: Other: Oral fluids; infusion of up to 110% maintenance fluids as balanced crystalloid IV solution; Other: Infusion of 200% maintenance fluids as balanced crystalloid IV solution

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT05219110

DMID 21-0042

R01AI165327 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Details and patient eligibility

About

The objective of this study is to determine if early high volume intravenous fluid administration (hyperhydration) may be effective in mitigating or preventing complications of shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) infection in children and adolescents when compared with traditional approaches (conservative fluid management).

Full description

The hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is the most serious complication of high-risk Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infection and the most common cause of acquired acute kidney injury in otherwise healthy children. HUS develops in up to 20% of children following STEC infection, 60% of whom require temporary renal replacement therapy (RRT); an additional 50% develop serious extrarenal complications. Although mortality from acute HUS is low (1-3%), it has remained constant for three decades and approximately 30% of HUS survivors experience long-term sequelae, chiefly chronic kidney disease, hypertension, and diabetes. There have been only three relatively small, randomized trials to prevent progression to HUS and/or to reduce kidney injury once HUS is established; none have demonstrated benefits, and none have been performed since 1999.

Recent cohort studies suggest that early intravascular volume expansion (hyperhydration) in STEC infected children could be nephroprotective if and when HUS occurs. However, more evidence is needed before hyperhydration supplants traditional 'wait and see' (i.e., conservative fluid management) reactive care approaches which focus on outpatient care and minimizing intravenous fluid administration to avoid fluid overload in children who do develop HUS. Here, we will confirm or refute the hypothesis that aggressive volume expansion, administered early in STEC infected children, is associated with better renal outcomes and fewer adverse events than conservative management by accomplishing three Specific Aims: (1) Determine the effectiveness of hyperhydration in decreasing the prevalence of Major Adverse Kidney Events by 30 days (defined as death, RRT, or sustained loss of kidney function at 30 days) in STEC-infected children versus conservative fluid management; (2) Determine the effectiveness and safety of hyperhydration in decreasing HUS and life-threatening, extrarenal complications in STEC-infected children versus conservative fluid management; (3) Create a biorepository that will be linked to our clinical data to identify prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets in STEC-infected children.

Enrollment: 1,040 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 9 months to 21 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

In order to be eligible to participate in this study (i.e., to be enrolled in the relevant institutional clinical care pathway), an individual must meet all of the following criteria:

1. Aged 9.0 months to <21 years at the time of informed consent.

2. Evidence of high-risk STEC infecting pathogen defined by any of the following:

   1. Bloody diarrhea within the preceding 7 days

      • Positive STEC culture OR
      • Positive antigen/polymerase chain reaction test for toxin/gene type not otherwise specified OR

   2. Bloody or Non-bloody diarrhea within the preceding 7 days

      •Presumptive diagnosis of HUS

      • (meeting all 3 HUS criteria - anemia, thrombocytopenia, and renal insufficiency) OR

   3. Non-bloody or no diarrhea

      • Positive STEC culture for high-risk strain (i.e., O103, O104, O111, O113, O121, O145 or O157) OR
      • Positive antigen/polymerase chain reaction test Stx2 toxin/gene

Exclusion criteria

All individuals meeting any of the exclusion criteria at baseline will be excluded from study participation.

1. Presence of Advanced HUS defined by:

   1. Hematocrit <30% AND

   2. Platelet count <150 x 103/mm3 AND

   3. Creatinine > 2.0 mg/dL (177 µmol/L)

      • The presence of only 1 or 2 of these criteria will not result in patient exclusion, regardless of how close the 3rd criterion is to meeting the exclusion criteria.

2. Prior episode of HUS or diagnosis of atypical HUS.

3. Chronic disease limiting fluid volumes administered (e.g. impaired renal, liver, or cardiac function, chronic lung disease).

4. Evidence of anuria (i.e., no urine output for > 24 hours).

5. Hypoxemia requiring oxygen therapy

6. Hypertensive emergency

7. Greater than or equal to 10 days since onset of diarrhea or if no diarrhea then the onset of other symptoms.

8. Patients with known pregnancy

9. Patients or caregivers with language barriers impairing appropriate conduct of the study protocol.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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1,040 participants in 2 patient groups

Hyperhydration

Experimental group

Description:

In this study arm, all eligible children are admitted for the administration of intravenous fluids. The following specifics will form the basis of the fluid management protocol: 1. Reversal of dehydration: Initial ED rehydration strategies should focus on rapidly reversing dehydration. 2. Infusion of 200% of maintenance fluids x 24 hours 3. If hematocrit reduction \< 20% from initial value, repeat step #2 \[infusion of 200% maintenance fluids x 24 hours\]. 4. Oral fluids permitted ad lib. 5. Once the target hematocrit reduction is achieved (20% decrement in initial HCT) AND a 10% weight gain, adjust total IV fluid volume to maintain targeted weight gain: insensible plus output (i.e., urine plus stool).

Treatment:

Other: Infusion of 200% maintenance fluids as balanced crystalloid IV solution

Conservative Fluid Management

Active Comparator group

Description:

The conservative fluid management arm has been designed to align and integrate into existing local practice patterns. Implementation of this approach will allow institutions and their practitioners to choose their management of protocol eligible children. All children will undergo a protocolized baseline evaluation that includes reversal of dehydration (if present) and follow-up plan (see Pre-Pathway care). The fluid management decision in the ED (i.e., to treat dehydration) will be at the discretion of the clinical care team. In the absence of evidence of microangiopathy (i.e., normal urinalysis, LDH, hemoglobin and platelet counts, and creatinine concentrations), the decision to admit the child to hospital or discharge the child to home will be at the discretion of the clinical care team. If microangiopathy is present (i.e., abnormal urinalysis, LDH, hemoglobin or platelet counts, or creatinine concentrations) admission for monitoring will be required.

Treatment:

Other: Oral fluids; infusion of up to 110% maintenance fluids as balanced crystalloid IV solution