Intravenous Magnesium Sulfate in Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Haemorrhage (IMASH)

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Status and phase

Completed

Phase 3

Conditions

Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Treatments

Drug: Intravenous magnesium sulfate infusion

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT00124150

IMASH trial

Details and patient eligibility

About

The IMASH trial is a simple, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, multi-center trial to answer the question: "Does intravenous magnesium sulfate improve clinical outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage?"

Full description

Vasospasm worsen outcome in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (ASAH).

Magnesium is known to dilate cerebral arteries and to block N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors in the injured neurons.

Intravenous magnesium may prevent vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage and may protect neurons against damage during established vasospasm.

The IMASH trial is a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, multi-center trial to evaluate the effect that intravenous magnesium sulfate infusion on the clinical outcome of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage.

Methods:

After obtaining randomisation code:

Start MgSO4 20 mmol over 30 minutes, followed by infusion of 80 mmol/day or equivalent volume of saline within 48 h after onset of symptom,
Study drug to be infused for 14 days from the day of hemorrhage (regarded as day 0).
Measure plasma magnesium concentration daily and perform transcranial Doppler to monitor blood flow velocities of both middle cerebral arteries and extracranial segment of the internal carotid arteries.
Plasma magnesium concentration in the IV MgSO4 group should be raised to 2.0-2.5 mmol/L or twice the serum baseline level. Patients that are randomized to saline infusion will only have their magnesium levels normalized if there is a clinical indication to do so.

Outcome assessment Primary outcome: Extended Glasgow Outcome Scale at six months Secondary outcome: Incidence of clinical vasospasm, Barthel Index; modified Rankin score, modified National Institute of Health Stroke Score, MCA velocities, other major complications

Study duration:

6 years with a refined sample size of 340 after analysis of pilot study data; with planned interim analysis.

Enrollment

327 patients

Sex

All

Ages

18 to 80 years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

ASAH (as indicated by CT scan or lumbar puncture and an intracranial aneurysm confirmed by computer tomographic or conventional angiography)
Within 48 hrs of ictus (hemorrhage event)

Exclusion criteria

Pregnancy
Major renal, hepatic or pulmonary disease
Major cardiac disease or recent myocardial infarct (< 6 months)
Age less than 18 years
Moribund condition on admission (defined as a patient that is in such a poor clinical condition that further active neurosurgical management would not be anticipated)