1.
The IRONMAN trial: a protocol for a multicentre randomised placebo-controlled trial of intravenous iron in intensive care unit patients with anaemia
Litton E, Baker S, Erber W, French C, Ferrier J, Hawkins D, Higgins AM, Hofmann A, Keulenaer BL, Farmer S, et al
Critical Care & Resuscitation. 2014;16((4):):285-90.
Abstract
BACKGROUND Allogeneic red blood cell (RBC) transfusion is associated with significant increases in mortality and major morbidity in patients admitted to the intensive care unit, and the blood supplies it requires are an increasingly scarce and costly resource. Despite high levels of compliance with recommended transfusion thresholds in the ICU, RBC transfusion remains common. Novel interventions to reduce the incidence of RBC transfusion are required. OBJECTIVE To describe the study protocol for a randomised controlled trial, the Intravenous Iron or Placebo for Anaemia in Intensive Care (IRONMAN) trial, comparing intravenous (IV) iron with placebo in patients who are admitted to an ICU and are anaemic. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTION A Phase IIb multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled trial. Patients admitted to the ICU with a haemoglobin (Hb) level < 100 g/L and predicted to require critical care beyond the next calendar day will be randomly assigned in a 1 : 1 ratio to receive IV ferric carboxymaltose (500 mg) or placebo. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary end point will be the mean number of RBC units transfused from study enrolment to discharge from hospital. Secondary end points will include change in Hb level and incidence of nosocomial infection. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS The IRONMAN trial is designed to determine whether IV iron administered to patients admitted to an ICU and who are anaemic is associated with a reduction in RBC transfusion, compared with placebo in addition to standard care. The results of this trial may determine whether a Phase III trial of IV iron in ICUs is feasible. TRIAL REGISTRATION Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12612001249842). IS 1441-2772
2.
Albumin resuscitation for traumatic brain injury: is intracranial hypertension the cause of increased mortality?
Cooper DJ, Myburgh J, Heritier S, Finfer S, Bellomo R, Billot L, Murray L, Vallance S, SAFE-TBI Investigators, Australian, et al
Journal of Neurotrauma. 2013;30((7):):512-8.
Abstract
Mortality is higher in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) resuscitated with albumin compared with saline, but the mechanism for increased mortality is unknown. In patients from the Saline vs. Albumin Fluid Evaluation (SAFE) study with TBI who underwent intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring, interventional data were collected from randomization to day 14 to determine changes in ICP (primary outcome) and in therapies used to treat increased ICP. Pattern mixture modelling, designed to address informative dropouts, was used to compare temporal changes between the albumin and saline groups, and 321 patients were identified, of whom 164 (51.1%) received albumin and 157 (48.9%) received saline. There was a significant linear increase in mean ICP and significantly more deaths in the albumin group compared with saline when ICP monitoring was discontinued during the first week (1.30+0.33 vs. -0.37+0.36, p=0.0006; and 34.4% vs. 17.4%; p=0.006 respectively), but not when monitoring ceased during the second week (-0.08+0.44 vs. -0.23+0.38, p=0.79; and 18.6% vs. 12.1%; p=0.36 respectively). There were statistically significant differences in the mean total daily doses of morphine (-0.42+0.07 vs. -0.66+0.0, p=0.0009), propofol (-0.45+0.11 vs. -0.76+0.11; p=0.034) and norepinephrine (-0.50+0.07 vs. -0.74+0.07) and in temperature (0.03+0.03 vs. 0.16+0.03; p=0.0014) between the albumin and saline groups when ICP monitoring ceased during the first week. The use of albumin for resuscitation in patients with severe TBI is associated with increased ICP during the first week. This is the most likely mechanism of increased mortality in these patients.