Medium-term outcomes in patients with ascites treated with the alfapump® system: the TOPMOST study
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN10400022 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN10400022 |
| ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT) | NCT04326946 |
| Clinical Trials Information System (CTIS) | Nil known |
| Protocol serial number | 2018-AAR-012 |
| Sponsor | Sequana Medical NV |
| Funder | Sequana Medical NV |
- Submission date
- 15/07/2019
- Registration date
- 27/08/2019
- Last edited
- 08/04/2024
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Ongoing
- Condition category
- Signs and Symptoms
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Ascites is a build-up of fluid between the two layers of the peritoneum. This is a membrane that lines the tummy (abdomen). Ascites is caused most commonly by liver cirrhosis and by cancer.
The Sequana Medical alfapump® system is designed to remove ascites from the peritoneal cavity as it forms and move the ascites to the bladder where it is eliminated by the patient through normal urination.
The alfapump® system is a battery-powered pump that is implanted subcutaneously and is connected to two catheters; one to collect ascites from the peritoneal cavity and one to deliver the ascites to the bladder. The pump battery is charged transcutaneously (through the skin) by the patient. The alfapump® system is implanted using minimally invasive surgery and the physician can monitor the amount of ascites removed and adjust the removal rate using a dedicated computer (the alfapump® programmer) provided with the alfapump® system.
According to current clinical guides, the treatment of choice for refractory ascites is repeated paracentesis to evacuate fluid, associated with the administration of albumin.
In a series of Clinical Studies, the alfapump® system was shown to be an alternative to paracentesis in patients with refractory ascites due to liver cirrhosis.
This study will create an international registry of patients fitted with the alfapump® system. The main aim of the registry is to monitor the performance of the alfapump® system.
Who can participate?
All patients implanted with an alfapump® system
What does the study involve?
The TOPMOST is an international registry involving patients who are implanted with an alfapump® system according to its intended use and not participating in another clinical study in which the alfapump® is studied. Patients of both genders are eligible for this Registry. The Registry will include commercial implants of the alfapump® system implanted until 31 December 2023. It is expected this would be up to 400 patients.
Charts of all consecutive patients enrolled will be reviewed to obtain baseline data, safety and performance data on the alfapump® up to 24 month follow-up and standard of care lab results. At select sites, additional questionnaire and health status information including nutrition, diet, quality of life, physical activity and body measurements will be taken. Also data on concomitant medication, ECOG status, Frailty Score and further standard of care lab results will be collected.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There is no direct benefit for patients from participating in the Registry. Participation in this registry gives doctors and regulatory authorities the possibility to follow how the alfapump® system is working and whether there are any problems with the system.
This is not a treatment study and there are no additional interventions or visits planned at the hospital so no additional risks are expected for patients included in the registry.
Where is the study run from?
Sequana Medical NV, Zurich, Switzerland
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
October 2018 to December 2025.
Who is funding the study?
Sequana Medical NV, Ghent, Belgium
Who is the main contact?
Mr Jeroen Capel,
jeroen.capel@sequanamedical.com
Contact information
Public
Technoparkstrasse 1
Zurich
8005
Switzerland
 ORCID ID |
0000-0002-6047-9880 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +41 79 238 04 87 |
| jeroen.capel@sequanamedical.com |
Scientific
Technoparkstrasse 1
Zurich
8005
Switzerland
| Phone | +41 79 238 04 87 |
|---|---|
| jeroen.capel@sequanamedical.com |
Study information
| Primary study design | Observational |
|---|---|
| Study design | Multi-centre open label observational cohort study. |
| Secondary study design | Cohort study |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | inTernatiOnal alfaPuMp® cOhort STudy (TOPMOST) |
| Study acronym | TOPMOST |
| Study objectives | The purpose of the study is to collect information on how the implanted ALFApump® system is working and how patients are doing before and after having received the ALFApump®. The information collected will tell how much fluid is being transported with the help of the pump, and if there is any need for extra paracentesis. The study will also collect information on what patients, as well as the physician, thinks about using the system. |
| Ethics approval(s) | 1. Approved 06/09/2018, Swiss Ethics Committees on research involving humans (Haus der Akademien, Laupenstrasse 7, CH-3008, Bern; info@swissethics.ch; +41 31 306 93 95), ref: 2018-01173 2. Approved 16/11/2018, Ethics Committee University of Leipzig (Karl-Sudhoff-Institut für Geschichte der Medizin und der Naturwissenschaften, Käthe-Kollwitz-Straße 82, 04109 Leipzig; +49-(0)341 / 97 154 90; ethik@medizin.uni-leipzig.de), ref: 291/18-ek 3. Approved 18/06/2019, Ethics Committee Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen (Erlangen-Nuremberg, Krankenhausstraße 12, 91054 Erlangen+49 9131 85-22270; ethikkommission@fau.de), ref: 201_19Bc 4. The alfapump® system is commercially available in the European Economic Area (EEA), receiving CE marking for commercial activity under CE 616535 with Notified Body number 0086 (BSI). |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Refractory ascites due to liver cirrhosis or malignant ascites |
| Intervention | All consecutive patients treated with the alfapump® during the enrollment period are eligible for participation. Patients are followed for a period of up to 24 months post-implant or until 30 days post explant. The alfapump® system is implanted using minimally invasive surgery lasting 45 minutes. The procedure is typically performed under general anaesthesia but can also be performed under local anaesthesia with sedation. The pump is implanted under the skin in the right half of the abdomen via an incision of 3-4 cm. The catheters are implanted via a small open incision. The System is fully implanted, allowing the patient normal mobility and activity. The study is a registry and no experimental interventional procedures are planned. Patients will be attending visits according to routine care. |
| Intervention type | Device |
| Phase | Phase IV |
| Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s) | Not applicable. |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
Patient survival with a functional alfapump® system at 6 months. |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
1. Occurrence of (major) reportable events, adverse events, incidents and device deficiencies requiring a surgical intervention |
| Completion date | 31/12/2025 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 400 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. All patients implanted with an alfapump® system as per intended use |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Younger than 18 years 2. Pregnancy 3. Inability to operate the Smart Charger to recharge the alfapump® 4. Participating in another study in which the alfapump® is studied |
| Date of first enrolment | 17/10/2018 |
| Date of final enrolment | 31/12/2023 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Germany
- Switzerland
Study participating centres
Bern
3010
Switzerland
Leipzig
04103
Germany
Erlangen
91054
Germany
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Not provided at time of registration |
| IPD sharing plan | All data generated or analysed during this study will be included in the subsequent results publication |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Editorial Notes
08/04/2024: ClinicalTrials.gov number added.
17/07/2019: Trial’s existence confirmed by University of Leipzig.
