NCT04633889

Brief Summary

Multiple lines of evidence support a central role of iron in causing acute kidney injury (AKI), including the finding that prophylactic administration of iron chelators attenuates AKI in animal models. Patients undergoing cardiac surgery may be particularly susceptible to iron-mediated kidney injury due to the profound hemolysis that often occurs from cardiopulmonary bypass. The investigators will test in a phase 2, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial whether prophylactic administration of deferoxamine decreases the incidence of AKI following cardiac surgery.

Trial Health

75
On Track

Trial Health Score

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

Enrollment
320

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for phase_2

Timeline
3mo left

Started Apr 2021

Longer than P75 for phase_2

Geographic Reach
1 country

3 active sites

Status
active not recruiting

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 Progress96%
Apr 2021Aug 2026

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

November 12, 2020

Completed
6 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

November 18, 2020

Completed
5 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

April 13, 2021

Completed
3.4 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

August 26, 2024

Completed
1.4 years until next milestone

Results Posted

Study results publicly available

January 26, 2026

Completed
6 months until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

August 1, 2026

Expected
Last Updated

May 4, 2026

Status Verified

April 1, 2026

Enrollment Period

3.4 years

First QC Date

November 12, 2020

Results QC Date

November 13, 2025

Last Update Submit

April 18, 2026

Conditions

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Acute Kidney Injury

    Composite outcome that includes any of the following: 1. Urine output \<0.5 ml/kg/h for ≥6 consecutive hours within the first 48h or until the Foley catheter is removed, whichever occurs first 2. Increase in serum creatinine ≥0.3 mg/dl within the first 48h 3. Increase in serum creatinine ≥50% within 7 days 4. Receipt of renal replacement therapy within 7 days

    7 days

Secondary Outcomes (10)

  • Renal Tubular Injury

    3 days

  • Number of Participants With Major Adverse Kidney Events

    7 days

  • Number of Participants With Postoperative Myocardial Injury

    2 days

  • Number of Participants With Atrial Fibrillation or Atrial Flutter

    7 days

  • Number of Participants With Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation

    24 hours

  • +5 more secondary outcomes

Study Arms (2)

Deferoxamine

EXPERIMENTAL

Deferoxamine 30mg/kg (max dose, 6g) intravenous infusion (diluted in 240mL normal saline) administered over 12 hours

Drug: Deferoxamine

Placebo

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

Normal saline (240mL) intravenous infusion over 12 hours

Drug: Normal saline

Interventions

Deferoxamine 30mg/kg (max dose, 6g) intravenous infusion (diluted in 240mL normal saline) administered over 12 hours

Deferoxamine

Normal saline (240mL) intravenous infusion over 12 hours

Placebo

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

  • Age ≥18 years
  • Undergoing coronary artery bypass graft and/or valve surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass
  • AKI risk score ≥6 at the time of screening
  • Written informed consent from the patient or surrogate

You may not qualify if:

  • AKI, defined as any of the following:
  • Increase in serum creatinine ≥0.3 mg/dl in 48h
  • Increase in serum creatinine ≥50% in 7d (if no value available in last 7d, use most recent value in last 3 months)
  • Urine output ≤0.5 ml/kg/h x 6 consecutive hours (only assessed in patients with hourly monitoring via Foley catheter)
  • Receipt of renal replacement therapy (RRT) within 7d
  • Advanced chronic kidney disease (eGFR \<15 ml/min/1.73m2 or end-stage kidney disease receiving RRT)
  • Hemoglobin \<8 g/dL (closest value in the prior 3 months)
  • Fever (temperature ≥38⁰C) in the last 48h
  • Suspected or confirmed bacteremia, endocarditis, or pyelonephritis
  • Pneumonia, aspiration, or bilateral pulmonary infiltrates from an infectious etiology reported on chest x-ray or CT scan in the last 7d
  • Positive COVID-19 test within previous 10d
  • Chronic iron overload (including conditions such as hemochromatosis and beta thalassemia major) or previous iron chelation therapy (including prior participation in DEFEAT-AKI)
  • Known hypersensitivity to deferoxamine
  • Taking prochlorperazine
  • Severe hearing loss
  • +8 more criteria

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (3)

Massachusetts General Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States

Location

Brigham and Women's Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States

Location

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States

Location

Related Publications (2)

  • Sharma S, Leaf DE. Iron Chelation as a Potential Therapeutic Strategy for AKI Prevention. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2019 Nov;30(11):2060-2071. doi: 10.1681/ASN.2019060595. Epub 2019 Sep 25.

    PMID: 31554656BACKGROUND
  • Scurt FG, Bose K, Mertens PR, Chatzikyrkou C, Herzog C. Cardiac Surgery-Associated Acute Kidney Injury. Kidney360. 2024 Jun 1;5(6):909-926. doi: 10.34067/KID.0000000000000466. Epub 2024 May 1.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Acute Kidney Injury

Interventions

DeferoxamineSaline Solution

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Renal InsufficiencyKidney DiseasesUrologic DiseasesFemale Urogenital DiseasesFemale Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy ComplicationsUrogenital DiseasesMale Urogenital Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Hydroxamic AcidsHydroxylaminesAminesOrganic ChemicalsHydroxy AcidsCarboxylic AcidsCrystalloid SolutionsIsotonic SolutionsSolutionsPharmaceutical Preparations

Results Point of Contact

Title
David Leaf, MD, MMSc
Organization
Brigham and Women's Hospital

Study Officials

  • David E. Leaf, MD, MMSc

    Brigham and Women's Hospital

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

PI is Sponsor Employee
No
Restrictive Agreement
No

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
phase 2
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
TRIPLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Purpose
PREVENTION
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

November 12, 2020

First Posted

November 18, 2020

Study Start

April 13, 2021

Primary Completion

August 26, 2024

Study Completion (Estimated)

August 1, 2026

Last Updated

May 4, 2026

Results First Posted

January 26, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Locations