PRevention Of Hypertensive Injury to the Brain by Intensive Treatment after IntraCerebral Haemorrhage (PROHIBIT-ICH)

ISRCTN ISRCTN23416732
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN23416732
ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT03863665
Secondary identifying numbers PROHIBIT01; 38628
Submission date
13/03/2019
Registration date
18/03/2019
Last edited
06/06/2023
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Circulatory System
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data
Record updated in last year

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
About 1 in 10 strokes are due to a bleed into the brain from a ruptured (burst) artery, called intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH). The symptoms of ICH are due to nerve cell damage or swelling, and depend on where in the brain the bleeding has occurred; they can include drowsiness, nausea and vomiting, headaches, weakness of one or more limbs, loss of vision or speech, or seizures. In some cases, ICH is caused by injury or surgery, in others it happens suddenly without warning (“spontaneous”). Spontaneous ICH is sometimes the result of high blood pressure (BP) which, over time, causes damage to the small blood vessels supplying the brain, making them more likely to rupture. The main cause of spontaneous ICH is called “small vessel disease” (SVD), this may be because of poor BP control. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has improved our ability to see the effects of SVD on scans of the brain after ICH. The aim of this study is to determine whether frequent measurements of BP using a monitor that securely sends readings automatically to our research team by Bluetooth technology (called “telemetric” monitoring) can be used to safely guide medication changes to “intensively” lower BP (to a target of 120/80 mmHg) to reduce damage to the small blood vessels in the brain after spontaneous ICH.

Who can participate?
Patients over the age of 30 who have had a spontaneous ICH, most likely due to small vessel disease, confirmed on a brain scan

What does the study involve?
Participants meet a member of the research team at the hospital, who answers any questions they may have. If they are eligible and willing to participate in the study, they are given a unique study number; information is collected regarding their health status, memory and thinking (cognition), and quality of life. A small blood sample (equivalent to one teaspoonful or 5-10 millilitres of blood) is taken, and the participant has an MRI scan of the brain. The participants are invited back for follow-up after 3 months and 1 year, where they are asked about any medical problems or admissions to hospital since they joined the study and how they are recovering. The participant is also asked to do some memory tests and is fitted for 24 hours with a BP monitor that records BP every 30 minutes during the day and hourly at night. They have another MRI of the brain at the 1 year follow-up. Half of the participants are randomly (by chance) allocated to monitor their BP at home using a telemetric monitor. BP data is automatically sent to monitor and change the medicine dose to reach a BP target of 120/80 mmHg. The other half of the participants receive usual clinical care including BP control monitored by their hospital stroke team and their General Practitioner. If the participant is selected to monitor their blood pressure at home, they are shown how to use the monitor and are asked to measure their blood pressure in a seated position three times over 10 minutes (in their non-dominant arm [the one that they don’t usually use for things like writing] unless they have been told otherwise), when waking in the morning, in the early afternoon, and before going to bed. This needs to be done for at least one month, and possibly up to three months, depending on how quickly their blood pressure reaches the intensive target. These BP measurements are transmitted to a coordinating centre in Oxford via Bluetooth technology and assessed daily by a dedicated research team of nurses and doctors who contact the participant by phone if a change in medication is indicated. The GP is also notified by the coordinating centre. After three months, they are asked to take readings three times over 10 minutes, once a week until the participant is seen again at one year.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Telemetric home monitoring is a promising strategy to facilitate home BP monitoring after stroke, which should improve adherence and optimize medication to better control BP. Telemetry allows patients with hypertension to monitor their own BP and automatically send the information to a secure website, available to their clinicians to monitor and adjust their treatment. All participants will benefit from access to an expert research team. This study does not pose major risks or ethical issues. The procedures that will be carried out will be a blood test and MRI scan that will be carried out by an experienced professional to minimise any discomfort.

Where is the study run from?
1. UCL Stroke Research Centre (UK)
2. University of Oxford (UK)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
March 2019 to January 2023

Who is funding the study?
Stroke Association (UK)

Who is the main contact?
Prof. David Werring, d.werring@ucl.ac.uk

Study website

Contact information

Prof David Werring
Scientific

UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology
Department of Brain Repair and Rehabilitation
Russell Square House
10-12 Russell Square
1st floor, Stroke Research Centre
London
WC1B 5EH
United Kingdom

Phone +44 (0)20 3108 7493
Email d.werring@ucl.ac.uk

Study information

Study designRandomized controlled trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeQuality of life
Participant information sheet Not available in web format. Please contact the study coordinator: prohibit-ich@ucl.ac.uk to request a participant information sheet
Scientific titlePrevention Of Hypertensive Injury to the Brain by Intensive Treatment after IntraCerebral Haemorrhage: a pilot randomised trial of home telemetry-guided treatment
Study acronymPROHIBIT-ICH
Study objectivesThe trial will investigate whether intensive lowering of blood pressure (BP) using telemetric home monitoring in survivors of intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) is feasible, safe and effective in reducing brain injury. If successful this study will be a precursor for a larger definitive trial. Our intervention should allow survivors of ICH to know, understand, and manage their own BP to prevent strokes and cognitive impairment, and improve outcomes.

Primary Objective:
1. BP study:
Does the use of centralised telemetric home BP monitoring to guide intensive BP treatment in patients with spontaneous (non-traumatic) ICH achieve a reduction in 3-month BP compared with standard primary care?
2. Imaging study:
Does intensive BP treatment using centralised telemetric home monitoring result in a reduction in progression of small vessel disease (SVD)-related brain injury assessed on MRI (including, but not limited to, white matter hyperintensities (WMH), white matter structural integrity, incident cerebral microbleeds (CMBs), and brain atrophy) compared with standard care?

Secondary Objective(s):
1. BP study:
1. Is it feasible in a multi-site setting to intensively lower BP using telemetric home BP monitoring for an extended period of time following spontaneous ICH?
2. Is it safe to intensively lower BP for an extended period of time following a spontaneous ICH, or are there adverse responses (including increased progression of cognitive decline)?
3. Is the intervention acceptable to participants, including measures of quality of life?
2. Imaging study:
1. Does any reduction in recurrent vascular events (including ICH) or progression of cognitive decline on intensive BP treatment correlate with baseline measures of changes in quantitative and structural brain scan markers of small blood vessel health?
2. Are there any adverse effects on neuroimaging measures (e.g. increased white matter ischaemic injury) associated with intensive BP treatment?
Ethics approval(s)1. Approved 11/06/2018 by London - Camden & Kings Cross Research Ethics Committee, NHSBT Newcastle Blood Donor Centre, Holland Drive, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4NQ, Tel: +44 (0)207 104 8086, Email: nrescommittee.london-camdenandkingscross@nhs.net, REC ref: 18/LO/0866
2. Approved 17/08/2018 by Scotland A Research Ethics Committee, Research Ethics Service, 2nd Floor, Waverley Gate, 2-4 Waterloo Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3EG, Tel: +44 (0)131 465 5680, Email: manx.neill@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk, REC ref: 18/SS/0059
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedSpontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH)
InterventionPROHIBIT-ICH will randomise participants to compare a strategy of intensive BP treatment (target <120/80 mm Hg) guided by telemetric home monitoring, versus standard primary care (current RCP guideline is 130/80 mm Hg), in 112 adult survivors of hypertension-related ICH. The study will establish the feasibility and safety of the intervention, the efficacy of BP reduction, and explore whether it reduces the progression of SVD-related injury on brain MRI.

Randomisation:
Patients will be randomized in a 1:1 group assignment ratio to intensive BP lowering (intervention group) or standard care (control group) using an online randomization service (Sealed Envelope), available 24 hours a day.

When a person agrees to participate demographic, contact and medical history information necessary to conduct the study will be recorded. Each participant will be allocated a unique trial number. Relevant sections of medical notes and data collected during the study may be looked at by the researchers from regulatory authorities or from the NHS Trust, where it is relevant to the subject’s participation in the trial.

The participants randomised to the intervention group will receive a telemetric Bluetooth home BP-monitoring device. It will facilitate the Oxford BP-monitoring team to closely monitor the participant’s BP to keep to the target of <120/80 mmHg. If this is not achieved then BP medication will be adjusted accordingly in order to achieve the target by the 3-month follow-up visit. BP readings (3 readings over 10 minutes in the seated position in the non-dominant arm, unless there is severe hemiparesis) will be taken 3 times daily (early morning, early afternoon and evening). All BP data will be automatically transmitted centrally in real-time to the device coordination site in Oxford. A dedicated research member will be responsible for checking all BP data daily on patients in the study and will advise on adjusting medication according to the latest BHS guideline, to ensure BP is lowered to the intervention arm target. The local study centre will send new prescriptions directly to patients (with communication simultaneously with the GP). For dose changes, advice will be given to participants by phone by the central study team. All medication changes will be notified to the local research team and GP; responsibility for BP treatment will be by the local PI.

The data will be compared the control who will not receive the device and will be under the standard primary care.

Follow up:
3-month follow-up (visit two): Completion of 3-month CRF, blood pressure recorded and completion of Cognitive assessment, EQ-5D questionnaire and home blood pressure acceptability questionnaire. 24-hour ABPM to be performed at the time of the 3-month follow-up visit.

12-month follow-up (final visit): Completion of 12-month CRF, blood pressure recorded, and completion of Cognitive assessment and EQ-5D questionnaire. 24-hour ABPM to be performed at the time of the 12-month follow-up visit.

An MRI scan will be performed at baseline and the 12-month follow-up visit on all participants to identify markers of cerebral small vessel disease including:
1. Change in white matter hyperintensity volume
2. Change in white matter microstructure (DTI)
3. Change in the number of CMBs
4. Change in cerebral atrophy
Intervention typeDevice
Pharmaceutical study type(s)
PhaseNot Applicable
Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s)Device name: A&D BP Digital Blood Pressure Monitor (UA-767PBT-Ci), CE Declaration UA-767PBT-Ci
Primary outcome measure1. The efficacy of telemetric BP monitoring to guide intensive BP treatment in ICH survivors by detecting a statistically significant reduction in BP in the intervention compared to the control arm at 3 months
2. The feasibility of telemetric BP lowering in ICH survivors by detection of how many eligible participants agree. Feasibility criteria are at least ≥50% of eligible participants agrees to participate. This will be measured at 3 months from randomisation
3. The feasibility of telemetric BP lowering in ICH survivors by detection of how many drop outs there are in the intervention arm detected 3 months from randomisation
4. The feasibility of telemetric BP lowering in ICH survivors by detecting patient approval of the device by acceptability questionnaire at 3 months
5. Efficacy of brain imaging by detecting the progression in MRI white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volume over 1 year at 12 months from randomisation
6. The safety of telemetric BP lowering in ICH survivors measured by serious adverse events related to reducing BP in the intervention arm at 12 months from randomisation
Secondary outcome measures1. Any incidence of vascular events reported in both arms at 12 months from randomisation
2. Cognitive ability assessed by the Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) questionnaire in both arms at 12 months from randomisation
3. The number of BP lowering drugs at 3 months and at 12 month follow-up visits. This will detected in both arms and compared
4. Mean daytime BP on 24-hour ABPM in both groups at 12 months from randomisation
5. Neuroimaging outcomes: the proportion of patients who develop new cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) over 12 months
6. Neuroimaging outcomes: the proportion of patients who develop new infarcts or intracerebral haemorrhages at 12 months
7. Neuroimaging outcomes: mean diffusivity (MD) at 12 months
8. Neuroimaging outcomes: fractional anisotropy (FA) at 12 months
9. Neuroimaging outcomes: cerebral blood flow (CBF) on 3T PCASL at 12 months
10. Neuroimaging outcomes: total brain volume, white matter volume and grey matter volume on 3T T1 volumetric images at 12 months
11. Neuroimaging outcomes: composite neuroimaging measures (e.g summary SVD scores) at 12 months
Overall study start date11/03/2019
Completion date31/01/2023

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit30 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participants112
Total final enrolment86
Key inclusion criteriaCurrent participant inclusion criteria as of 18/04/2020:
1. Adults (aged ≥30 years) with spontaneous primary ICH (i.e. without known underlying structural, macrovascular or other cause (e.g. arteriovenous malformation, tumour) after adequate investigation at the discretion of the local investigator). This will include participants presumed to have cerebral SVD (both hypertensive arteriopathy and cerebral amyloid angiopathy)
2. Clinical team opinion that BP control since the ICH is not adequate AND the measured SBP prior to randomisation is ≥130 mm Hg
3. Recruitment soon after ICH, ideally at hospital discharge or within weeks, is encouraged; recruitment at a later stage after ICH is also exceptionally allowed if there is evidence of inadequate BP control AND SBP at randomisation is ≥130 mm Hg
4. Willingness and demonstration of ability to undertake home BP measurements, either unassisted or with the help of a relative, friend or carer
5. Ability and willingness to complete an MRI scan
6. Ability and willingness to attend and complete the study assessments including cognitive screen
7. Ability and willingness to provide informed consent, or with a suitable consultee available and able to participate in the intervention (e.g. with a motivated carer)

Previous participant inclusion criteria:
1. Adults (aged ≥40 years) with spontaneous primary ICH (i.e. without known underlying structural, macrovascular or other cause (e.g. arteriovenous malformation, tumour) after adequate investigation at the discretion of the local investigator). This will include participants presumed to have cerebral SVD (both hypertensive arteriopathy and cerebral amyloid angiopathy)
2. Clinical team opinion that BP control since the ICH is not adequate AND the measured SBP prior to randomisation is ≥130 mm Hg
3. Recruitment soon after ICH, ideally at hospital discharge or within weeks, is encouraged; recruitment at a later stage after ICH is also exceptionally allowed if there is evidence of inadequate BP control AND SBP at randomisation is ≥130 mm Hg
4. For patients recruited in hospital there should be a plan for home discharge (not to a nursing or care home) after their inpatient stay, or living at home at the time of recruitment
5. Willingness and demonstration of ability to undertake home BP measurements, either unassisted or with the help of a relative, friend or carer
6. Ability and willingness to complete an MRI scan
7. Ability and willingness to attend and complete the study assessments including cognitive screen
8. Ability and willingness to provide informed consent, or with a suitable consultee available and able to participate in the intervention (e.g. with a motivated carer)
Key exclusion criteria1. Inability to provide informed consent or lack of suitable consultee (if unable to provide personal consent, lack of suitable consultee)
2. Evidence of a macrovascular or structural cause for ICH (e.g. AVM or tumour)
3. Diagnosis of dementia (DSM IV criteria, or self-reported or documented in medical records)
4. Low Functional status (MRS ≥4) before or after ICH or frailty likely to make participation in 1-year follow-up difficult for the participant
5. Life expectancy <2 years
6. Taking more than 2 BP-lowering medications (i.e. 3 or more) at the time of consent
7. Consistently good BP control (below 130/80 mm Hg on measures taken as part of routine clinical care) prior to planned recruitment, judged not to require more intensive treatment
8. Known flow-restricting intracranial/extracranial large arterial stenosis
9. Known contraindication to MRI
10. Known absence of mobile phone coverage from all network operators and home internet at the participant’s home
11. Known sensitivity or contra-indication to BP treatments (e.g. symptomatic postural hypotension) is not an absolute exclusion criterion, but more information must be provided
12. Note that participation in other CTIMP or device trial is NOT an automatic exclusion criterion
Date of first enrolment22/03/2019
Date of final enrolment31/01/2022

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • Scotland
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centre

University College London Hospital
Russell Square House
10-12 Russell Square
London
WC1B 5EH
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

University College London
University/education

Joint Research Office
Gower Street
London
WC1E 6BT
England
United Kingdom

Phone +44 (0)2034475199
Email randd@uclh.nhs.uk
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/02jx3x895

Funders

Funder type

Charity

Stroke Association
Private sector organisation / Associations and societies (private and public)
Location
United Kingdom

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date31/12/2023
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryData sharing statement to be made available at a later date
Publication and dissemination planThe researchers plan to present the results of the study at scientific meetings and publish the results in scientific journals. All participant data will be anonymised for this purpose. Authorship of publications will be determined by the ICMJE criteria.
IPD sharing planThe data sharing plans for the current study are unknown and will be made available at a later date.

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Protocol file version v5 13/06/2018 02/04/2019 No No
Protocol file version v7.0 04/11/2019 24/04/2020 No No
HRA research summary 28/06/2023 No No
HRA research summary 28/06/2023 No No

Additional files

ISRCTN23416732_v5_13June2018.pdf
Uploaded 02/04/2019
ISRCTN23416732_PROTOCOL_v7.0_4Nov2019.doc
Uploaded 24/04/2020

Editorial Notes

06/06/2023: Contact details updated. Total final enrolment added.
02/06/2023: The intention to publish date was changed from 31/12/2022 to 31/12/2023.
02/02/2022: The scientific contacts have been changed and the plain English summary updated accordingly.
10/01/2022: The following changes have been made:
1. The recruitment end date has been changed from 31/12/2020 to 31/01/2022.
2. The overall trial end date has been changed from 31/12/2021 to 31/01/2023 and the plain English summary updated accordingly.
3. The contact email in the participant information sheet information has been changed.
4. Scotland has been added to the countries of recruitment.
05/02/2021: Recruitment has resumed.
24/04/2020: Uploaded protocol version 7.0 04/11/2019 (not peer reviewed).
18/04/2020: Due to current public health guidance, recruitment for this study has been paused but remote follow-up of existing participants is ongoing. The following changes have been made:
1. The recruitment end date has been changed from 18/03/2020 to 31/12/2020.
2. A scientific contact has been added.
3. The participant inclusion criteria have been updated.
4. The plain English summary has been updated to reflect the changes above.
02/04/2019: Uploaded protocol (not peer reviewed).
18/03/2019: Trial's existence confirmed by the NIHR.