NCT00910221

Brief Summary

Acute kidney dysfunction is common after cardiac surgery. While many patients suffer no long-term ill effects from post-operative kidney dysfunction, some require initiation of dialysis therapy that can contribute to long-term morbidity. Further, there is evidence to suggest that those patients requiring dialysis after cardiac surgery have a higher risk of death in hospital. The exact reasons why some patients develop acute kidney dysfunction after cardiac surgery is not well understood. However, research evidence to date has suggested that the presence of co-morbid illnesses (i.e., diabetes mellitus) and exposure to cardiopulmonary bypass (heart-lung machine used during operation when heart is stopped). Cardiopulmonary bypass, in particular, has been shown to over-activate several aspect of the body's immune system. Such over-activity can induce oxidative stress and contribute to acute kidney dysfunction. The investigators believe that the statin drug, atorvastatin, might reduce the oxidative stress that occurs during cardiopulmonary bypass, and thus, prevent or reduce the magnitude of acute kidney dysfunction in those patients at highest risk. The investigators hope to give atorvastatin (40 mg orally) to patients immediately prior to and for 3 days after cardiac surgery, and to compare the effects on kidney function with patients who have not had atorvastatin. Atorvastatin is the most commonly prescribed medication in Australia and is used to reduce blood cholesterol levels and decrease the risk of heart attacks and stroke. Recently, however, it has been discovered that atorvastatin may be useful for prevention of inflammation and oxidative stress in other conditions, such as following cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Thus, the investigators plan to examine whether atorvastatin can prevent acute kidney dysfunction. This trial as planned is a pilot study. If atorvastatin shows promising evidence of reduction in acute kidney dysfunction, further studies on a larger scale would be required to justify its general use. The investigators plan to determine whether atorvastatin, a statin drug, possesses kidney protective effects in patients at risk for perioperative acute kidney dysfunction after cardiac surgery and exposure to cardiopulmonary bypass. This is a pilot, randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled trial. The investigators plan to administer atorvastatin (40 mg orally) or placebo to patients immediately prior to and for 3 days after cardiac surgery. The atorvastatin/placebo will be given orally either by orogastric tube after induction of anaesthesia or swallowed by the patients. Whether a particular patient receives the atorvastatin or placebo will be decided at random, and neither the patient nor the investigators will be aware of the allocated treatment. The investigators plan to measure kidney function before and after cardiac surgery using the standard blood tests. The investigators also plan to measure markers of inflammation and oxidative stress in the blood. This may give insight into the mechanisms whereby atorvastatin exerts its effects. The investigators will also take four 20 ml samples of blood, spaced before, and after the operation, from the arterial catheter routinely inserted in every patient undergoing cardiac surgery. The investigators believe that there will be no significant additional risk to a patient who participates in the study, and no discomfort other than that normally associated with cardiac surgery. Informed consent will be obtained from the patient prior to the operation by one of the investigators or the ICU research nurse. The clinical care of a patient who does not consent for any reason will not be affected.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
100

participants targeted

Target at P50-P75 for phase_2

Timeline
Completed

Started Mar 2008

Typical duration for phase_2

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

March 1, 2008

Completed
1.2 years until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

May 28, 2009

Completed
1 day until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

May 29, 2009

Completed
1.2 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

August 1, 2010

Completed
1.1 years until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

September 1, 2011

Completed
Last Updated

September 11, 2012

Status Verified

August 1, 2009

Enrollment Period

2.4 years

First QC Date

May 28, 2009

Last Update Submit

September 9, 2012

Conditions

Keywords

Cardiac surgeryCardiopulmonary bypassOxidative stressAcute renal dysfunctionAtorvastatin

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Change in serum creatinine from baseline to peak level

    within first two-seven postoperative days

Secondary Outcomes (8)

  • Proportion of patients developing an increase in serum creatinine > 25% or >44µmicromol/L from baseline to peak level

    within first two-seven postoperative days

  • Proportion of patients developing any of the RIFLE criteria: R, I or F

    within first seven postoperative days

  • Proportion of patients developing any of the AKI stages: 1, 2 or 3 (using network definition)

    within first seven postoperative days

  • Change in NGAL from baseline to peak

    within first 24 postoperatively

  • Requirement of renal replacement therapy

    within hospital stay

  • +3 more secondary outcomes

Study Arms (2)

1

ACTIVE COMPARATOR
Drug: Atorvastatin

2

PLACEBO COMPARATOR
Drug: Placebo

Interventions

Atorvastatin tablet

1

Placebo tablet

2

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Cardiac surgical patients in whom the use of cardiopulmonary bypass was planned
  • Written informed consent of patient
  • Age \> 18 years
  • And having at least one ore more of the following risk factors for postoperative AKI:
  • Age =/\> 70 years
  • Preoperative plasma creatinine \>120 µmol/L, New York Heart Association class III/IV or LVEF \<35%
  • Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
  • Valve surgery (with or without coronary artery bypass graft)
  • Redo cardiac surgery

You may not qualify if:

  • An emergency operation is indicated (within 24 hours after hospital admission or on intra-aortic balloon pump)
  • Pregnancy is confirmed or breastfeeding is present
  • A renal allograft is present
  • Preoperative acute renal failure within 6 weeks (acute rise in serum creatinine \> 50% from baseline) is present
  • Pre-operative end stage renal disease (serum creatinine \> 300 µmol/L) is present
  • Chronic moderate to high dose corticosteroid therapy (\>10 mg/d prednisone or equivalent) is present
  • Known Allergy to Atorvastatin

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Austin Health

Melbourne, Victoria, 3084, Australia

Location

Related Publications (1)

  • Prowle JR, Calzavacca P, Licari E, Ligabo EV, Echeverri JE, Haase M, Haase-Fielitz A, Bagshaw SM, Devarajan P, Bellomo R. Pilot double-blind, randomized controlled trial of short-term atorvastatin for prevention of acute kidney injury after cardiac surgery. Nephrology (Carlton). 2012 Mar;17(3):215-24. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1797.2011.01546.x.

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Atorvastatin

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

PyrrolesAzolesHeterocyclic Compounds, 1-RingHeterocyclic CompoundsHeptanoic AcidsFatty AcidsLipids

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
phase 2
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER GOV
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Director of ICU research

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

May 28, 2009

First Posted

May 29, 2009

Study Start

March 1, 2008

Primary Completion

August 1, 2010

Study Completion

September 1, 2011

Last Updated

September 11, 2012

Record last verified: 2009-08

Locations