NCT05707962

Neuroprotective Efficacy of Postnatal Magnesium Sulphate in Term Infants With Birth Asphyxia

A Multicentre Double Blind Trial of the Neuroprotective Efficacy of Postnatal Magnesium Sulphate in Term/Near Term Infants With Moderate to Severe Birth Asphyxia

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 178 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Health Sciences Lahore · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 1 Hour – 24 Hours
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Birth/Perinatal asphyxia in Pakistan continues to be a leading cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity. It is estimated that around 80 to 120,000 neonates either suffer from or die from birth/perinatal asphyxia every year. In addition to the large number of deaths a larger number of babies who survive suffer from neuro-developmental disorders adding to the health burden to the society and the nation. To date other than prevention (which requires global efforts to improve maternal education and health care) the therapies available to treat infants who have suffered from birth asphyxia have been either technically too complex or extremely expensive.

Detailed description

Birth/Perinatal asphyxia in Pakistan continues to be a leading cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity. It is estimated that around 80 to 120,000 neonates either suffer from or die from birth/perinatal asphyxia every year. In addition to the large number of deaths a larger number of babies who survive suffer from neuro-developmental disorders adding to the health burden to the society and the nation. To date other than prevention (which requires global efforts to improve maternal education and health care) the therapies available to treat infants who have suffered from birth asphyxia have been either technically too complex or extremely expensive. Recent evidence from animal studies and small human studies it has become clear that giving Magnesium Sulphate to term or nearterm babies with moderate to severe birth/perinatal asphyxia reduces both mortality and morbidity. Magnesium Sulphate as a drug has been in clinical use for decades; its pharmacokinetics, safety profile and mode of action are well known. It is cheap and readily available in Pakistan thus providing an opportunity to confirm or refute the efficacy of Magnesium Sulphate in birth/perinatal asphyxia. With this in mind the following pragmatic study has been designed using the current practices and available resources:

Conditions

• Birth Asphyxia

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	Magnesium sulfate	All babies with moderate or severe Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy fulfilling the inclusion criteria will be randomized to receive either the standard treatment (oxygen and fluid therapy along with anticonvulsants if required) plus 3.0 ml/kg of 10% dextrose water given over 30 minutes, three dose given 24 hours apart or to receive standard treatment PLUS three doses of Magnesium Sulphate infusion given over 30 minutes at 250 mg/kg per dose given 24 hours apart. The volume of infusion shall be adjusted with 10% dextrose water to make it up to 3.0 ml. The resulting reconstituted solution for intravenous infusion shall be 8.3% Magnesium Sulphate delivered over 30 minutes at a rate of 0.1 ml/kg/minute i.e. 8.3 mg/kg/minute. The treatment should be started as soon after birth as possible and not later than 24 hours of life. The babies who meet the exclusion criteria will not be continued into the study.

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-03-24
• Primary completion: 2023-07-24
• Completion: 2023-08-10
• First posted: 2023-02-01
• Last updated: 2025-09-30

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Pakistan