ClinicalTrials.gov
ClinicalTrials.gov Menu

N-acetylcysteine in Non-Acetaminophen Pediatric Acute Liver Failure

The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details.
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00248625
Recruitment Status : Completed
First Posted : November 4, 2005
Results First Posted : July 28, 2016
Last Update Posted : July 28, 2016
Sponsor:
Collaborator:
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Information provided by (Responsible Party):
Robert Squires, Jr., University of Pittsburgh

Study Type: Interventional
Study Design: Allocation: Randomized;   Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment;   Masking: Triple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator);   Primary Purpose: Treatment
Conditions: Acute Liver Failure
Hepatic Encephalopathy
Interventions: Drug: N-acetylcysteine
Drug: Placebo

  Participant Flow

Recruitment Details
Key information relevant to the recruitment process for the overall study, such as dates of the recruitment period and locations
Participants were from an established registry of children with acute liver failure. Entry criteria: children <18 years, absence of a known chronic liver disease, biochemical evidence of acute liver injury, and a liver-based coagulopathy. Evidence of hepatic encephalopathy was required if the prothrombin time (PT) was between 15-19.9 seconds

Pre-Assignment Details
Significant events and approaches for the overall study following participant enrollment, but prior to group assignment
No text entered.

Reporting Groups
  Description
Placebo

Eligible children were adaptively allocated within strata defined by age (less than 2 years of age or at least 2 years old) and HE (grade 0-1 or 2-4) to placebo consisting of D5W alone. Volumes were adjusted for small children. Study medications were infused over 24 hours for up to 7 consecutive days in a dedicated line without other medications. Treatment was stopped earlier than 7 days in the case of hospital discharge, liver transplantation, or death within 7 days of randomization.

Dextrose in water: Eligible children were adaptively allocated within strata defined by age (less than 2 years of age or at least 2 years old) and HE (grade 0-1 or 2-4) to receive N-acetylcysteine (150 mg/kg/d) in 5% dextrose (D5W) and water or placebo consisting of an equal volume of D5W alone. Volumes were adjusted for small children. Study medications were infused over 24 hours for up to 7 consecutive days in a dedicated line without other medications.
N-acetylcysteine (NAC)

Eligible children were adaptively allocated within strata defined by age (less than 2 years of age or at least 2 years old) and HE (grade 0-1 or 2-4) to receive NAC (150 mg/kg/d) in 5% dextrose (D5W) and water. Volumes were adjusted for small children. Study medications were infused over 24 hours for up to 7 consecutive days in a dedicated line without other medications. Treatment was stopped earlier than 7 days in the case of hospital discharge, LTx, or death within 7 days of randomization.

N-acetylcysteine: The study drug is administered as a continuous infusion at a dose of 150 mg/kg/day for up to 7 days following entry into the study. The infusion is discontinued at the time of death, liver transplant or discharge.

Participant Flow:   Overall Study
    Placebo   N-acetylcysteine (NAC)
STARTED   92   92 
COMPLETED   92   90 
NOT COMPLETED   0   2 
Withdrawal by Subject                0                2 



  Baseline Characteristics

Population Description
Explanation of how the number of participants for analysis was determined. Includes whether analysis was per protocol, intention to treat, or another method. Also provides relevant details such as imputation technique, as appropriate.
All participants who were randomized were included in the baseline analysis.

Reporting Groups
  Description
N-acetylcysteine (NAC) Eligible children were adaptively allocated by age (less than 2 years of age or at least 2 years old) and HE (grade 0-1 or 2-4) to receive NAC (150 mg/kg/d) in 5% dextrose (D5W) infused over 24 hours for up to 7 consecutive days N-acetylcysteine: The study drug is administered as a continuous infusion at a dose of 150 mg/kg/day for up to 7 days following entry into the study.
Placebo

Eligible children were adaptively allocated within strata defined by age (less than 2 years of age or at least 2 years old) and HE (grade 0-1 or 2-4) to receive 5% dextrose (D5W) infused over 24 hours for up to 7 consecutive

Dextrose in water: placebo consisting of an equal volume of D5W alone for up to 7 days following entry into the study
Total Total of all reporting groups

Baseline Measures
   N-acetylcysteine (NAC)   Placebo   Total 
Overall Participants Analyzed 
[Units: Participants]
 		 92   92   184 
Age 
[Units: Participants]
 		     
<=18 years   92   92   184 
Between 18 and 65 years   0   0   0 
>=65 years   0   0   0 
Age 
[Units: Years]
Median (Inter-Quartile Range) 		 3.7 
 (0.8 to 10.5)  		 4.5 
 (1.0 to 9.5)  		 4.1 
 (0.9 to 10.0) 
Gender 
[Units: Participants]
 		     
Female   45   38   83 
Male   47   54   101 
Race (NIH/OMB) 
[Units: Participants]
 		     
American Indian or Alaska Native   0   1   1 
Asian   3   5   8 
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander   0   0   0 
Black or African American   15   15   30 
White   68   65   133 
More than one race   3   4   7 
Unknown or Not Reported   3   2   5 
Region of Enrollment 
[Units: Participants]
 		     
Canada   2   3   5 
United States   61   68   129 
United Kingdom   29   21   50 
Coma Grade of Hepatic Encephalopathy [1] 
[Units: Participants]
 		     
0-1   65   68   133 
2-4   27   24   51 
[1] West Haven Criteria for hepatic encephalopathy (Grade 0 - IV ) is used for participants > 3 year of age. Coma grade IV indicates a participant who is comatose , with no reflexes, is decerebrate and has abnormal EEG changes with very slow delta activity. For participants less than 3 years the Whittington Scale was used. The Whittington scale does not use EEG changes and has only 3 levels, early (grades I and II), Mid (III) with somnolence, stupor, combativeness and Late (IV) for participants who are comatose with absent reflexes and decerebrate or decorticate posturing.


  Outcome Measures

1.  Primary:   Survival   [ Time Frame: One year following randomization ]
  Show Outcome Measure 1

2.  Secondary:   Spontaneous Recovery   [ Time Frame: One year following randomization ]
  Show Outcome Measure 2

3.  Secondary:   Cumulative Percent Incidence of Transplantation by 1 Year   [ Time Frame: Within 1 year of randomization ]
  Show Outcome Measure 3

4.  Secondary:   Length of Hospital Stay   [ Time Frame: Randomization to hospital discharge ]
  Show Outcome Measure 4

5.  Secondary:   Categorized Length of ICU Stay   [ Time Frame: Within 7 days of randomization ]
  Show Outcome Measure 5

6.  Secondary:   Number of Organ Systems Failing   [ Time Frame: Within 7 days of randomization ]
  Show Outcome Measure 6

7.  Secondary:   Highest Coma Grade of Hepatic Encephalopathy   [ Time Frame: Within 7 days of randomization ]
  Show Outcome Measure 7

8.  Secondary:   Infectious Complication   [ Time Frame: Within 7 days of randomization ]
  Show Outcome Measure 8


  Serious Adverse Events


  Other Adverse Events


  Limitations and Caveats

Limitations of the study, such as early termination leading to small numbers of participants analyzed and technical problems with measurement leading to unreliable or uninterpretable data
No text entered.


  More Information

Certain Agreements:  
Principal Investigators are NOT employed by the organization sponsoring the study.
There is NOT an agreement between Principal Investigators and the Sponsor (or its agents) that restricts the PI's rights to discuss or publish trial results after the trial is completed.


Results Point of Contact:  
Name/Title: Robert H. Squires, Jr.
Organization: University of Pittsburgh
phone: 412-692-8648
e-mail: squiresr@upmc.edu


Publications:


Responsible Party: Robert Squires, Jr., University of Pittsburgh
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00248625     History of Changes
Other Study ID Numbers: IRB #: 0608007
U01DK072146 ( U.S. NIH Grant/Contract )
First Submitted: November 3, 2005
First Posted: November 4, 2005
Results First Submitted: February 19, 2016
Results First Posted: July 28, 2016
Last Update Posted: July 28, 2016