Effect of Dexmedetomidine on Brain Homeostasis and Neurocognitive Outcome
![]() |
The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details. |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04266665 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : February 12, 2020
Last Update Posted : February 15, 2022
|
- Study Details
- Tabular View
- No Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
Brain tumor surgery is commonly associated with different degrees of preoperative intracranial hypertension and surrounding tumor edema, elicited by tumor underlying pathophysiology. During craniotomy for brain tumor resection maintenance of hemodynamic stability and intracranial homoeostasis is of paramount importance. Disordered hemodynamics or adverse stress may activate the immune inflammation or neuroendocrine responses and lead to a surge of inflammatory mediators and stress hormones, which are implicated in secondary brain insults.
Adverse physiological responses caused by intraoperative disordered hemodynamics or surgery-related damage, may lead to some secondary brain injury (such as cerebral edema or cerebral hemorrhage), aggravating damage to brain tissue and affecting the recovery from anesthesia, cognition and prognosis in patients.
Prevention of secondary brain injury is a key-endpoint to improve clinical outcomes in glioma patients undergoing craniotomy.
Alpha2-adrenoceptor agonists have been widely used for sedation, analgesia and anti-sympathetic actions for many years, but the definite evidence of their potential use as neuroprotectants has so far been confined to animal studies, yet the findings are inconsistent.
Dexmedetomidine (DEX) has been demonstrated to be a new type a2 adrenergic receptor (a2-AR) agonist, which can selectively bind with the a1 and a2 adrenergic receptor, and playing a dual role by restraining the activity of sympathetic nervous and stimulating the vagus nerve. Dexmedetomidine (DEX) also plays an important role in in inhibiting inflammatory and neuroendocrine responses. Animal experiments showed that the right must have a dexmedetomidine neuro-protective effect. However, the brain-protective effect of dexmedetomidine in anesthesia of craniotomy resection of glioma has not been reported.
Thus, the aim of this study was to explore the effect of dexmedetomidine on perioperative brain protection, as well as cerebral oxygenation and metabolic status aiming to provide a basis for clinical rational drug use in patients undergoing craniotomy resection of glioma.
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
---|---|---|
Brain Tumor Metabolic Disturbance Inflammatory Response Oxygen Deficiency | Drug: Dexmedetomidine Other: Normal saline | Phase 4 |
Each participant will receive standard monitoring (ECG, SpO2, SBP, BIS, urine output, temperature). More detailed hemodynamic monitoring will be obtained by Edwards Lifesciences ClearSight system (CO, CI, SV, SVI, SVV, SVR, SVRI).
TCI Propofol and Remifentanil will be the agents of choice for induction and maintenance in anesthesia and cisatracurium will be used for neuromuscular blockade for intubation.
Protective mechanical ventilation will be chosen (7ml/kg IBW) with a respiratory rate to obtain a PaCO2 of 35-40 mmHg. PEEP will be changed for the best PaO2/FiO2 ratio and FiO2 of choice will be 0.5.
The radial artery catheterization will be applied for direct blood pressure measurement and arterial blood gas sampling (pH, PaO2, PaCO2, HCO3, BE, osmolality, lactic acid, Hb, glucose, Na and K will be measured).
The jugular bulb ipsilateral to the craniotomy site will be catheterized for receiving blood samples for blood gas analysis. The following oxygenation and metabolic parameters / derivates will be measured or calculated: SjvO2, pH, PjvO2, PjvCO2, HCO3, BE, Osmolality, Lactic acid jv, Hb, Glucose, Na, K, AjvDO2, AjvCO2, O2ERbr, eRQbr, AjvDL, and LOI.
Dexmedetomidine or normal saline (placebo) administration will start 10 minutes after anesthesia induction and maintained throughout the surgical procedure.
Phases
- T0: 5 minutes before administration of either DEX or placebo
- T15: 10 minutes after administration of either DEX or placebo
- T30: 30 minutes after administration of either DEX or placebo
- T60: 60 minutes after administration of either DEX or placebo
- T120: 120 minutes after administration of either DEX or placebo
- T240: 240 minutes after administration of either DEX or placebo
- End of surgical procedure Blood samples for measuring S-100b, NSE, cortisol, TNF-a and IL-6 will be obtained at phases T0, end of surgery and 24 hours after administration of either DEX or placebo.
Neurocognitive testing will be performed before surgery, 1 week and 1 month later using Karnofsky Performance Status (KFS), Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE), Μontreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Addenbrooke's Cognitive Exam (ACE III).
Intraoperative consumption of propofol and remifentanil will also be recorded
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 54 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | Triple (Participant, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | Effect of Dexmedetomidine on Brain Homeostasis and Neurocognitive Outcome of Patients Undergoing Brain Tumor Exclusion |
Actual Study Start Date : | March 12, 2020 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | November 15, 2021 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | December 15, 2021 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Active Comparator: Dexmedetomidine
Dexmedetomidine 2 μg/ml will be given as bolus 1mg/kg for 10 minutes with a maintenance dose of 0.8μg/kg/h until surgery completion
|
Drug: Dexmedetomidine
Dexmedetomidine 2 μg/ml will be given as bolus 1mg/kg for 10 minutes with a maintenance dose of 0.8μg/kg/h until surgery completion
Other Name: Dexdor |
Placebo Comparator: Normal saline
Normal saline (NaCl 0.9%) administration will start 10 minutes after anesthesia induction and maintained throughout the surgical procedure.
|
Other: Normal saline
Equivalent doses for a solution containing 2mcg/ml of the tested drug calculating for a bolus 1mg/kg for 10 minutes with a maintenance dose of 0.8μg/kg/h until surgery completion
Other Name: NaCl 0.9% |
- Changes in S-100b protein [ Time Frame: End of surgical procedure and 24 hours postoperatively ]Alterations in S-100b (μg/L) after intravenous infusion of equivalent doses of dexmedetomidine or placebo (normal saline)
- Changes in NSE [ Time Frame: End of surgical procedure and 24 hours postoperatively ]Alterations in NSE (ng/ml) after intravenous infusion of equivalent doses of dexmedetomidine or placebo (normal saline)
- Changes in serum cortisol [ Time Frame: End of surgical procedure and 24 hours postoperatively ]Alterations in serum cortisol (μg/dl) levels after intravenous infusion of equivalent doses of dexmedetomidine or placebo (normal saline)
- Changes in serum TNF-a [ Time Frame: End of surgical procedure and 24 hours postoperatively ]Alterations in serum TNF-a (pg/ml) levels after intravenous infusion of equivalent doses of dexmedetomidine or placebo (normal saline)
- Changes in serum IL-6 [ Time Frame: End of surgical procedure and 24 hours postoperatively ]Alterations in serum IL-6 (pg/ml) levels after intravenous infusion of equivalent doses of dexmedetomidine or placebo (normal saline)
- Changes in Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) [ Time Frame: 1 week and 1 month after the end of surgical procedure ]Alterations in Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) after intravenous infusion of equivalent doses of dexmedetomidine or placebo (normal saline)
- Changes in Μontreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) [ Time Frame: 1 week and 1 month after the end of surgical procedure ]Alterations in Μontreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) after intravenous infusion of equivalent doses of dexmedetomidine or placebo (normal saline)
- Changes in Addenbrooke's Cognitive Exam (ACE III) [ Time Frame: 1 week and 1 month after the end of surgical procedure ]Alterations in Addenbrooke's Cognitive Exam (ACE III) after intravenous infusion of equivalent doses of dexmedetomidine or placebo (normal saline)
- Changes in jugular venous oxygen saturation [ Time Frame: 10, 30, 60, 120, 240 minutes after commencing the infusion of the tested agent and end of surgical procedure ]Alterations in jugular venous oxygen saturation (%), after intravenous infusion of equivalent doses of dexmedetomidine or placebo (normal saline)
- Changes in arterio-jugular oxygen difference (AjvDO2) [ Time Frame: 10, 30, 60, 120, 240 minutes after commencing the infusion of the tested agent and end of surgical procedure ]Alterations in arterio-jugular oxygen difference (AjvDO2 [ml/dl]), after intravenous infusion of equivalent doses of dexmedetomidine or placebo (normal saline)
- Changes in arterio-jugular carbon dioxide difference (AjvCO2) [ Time Frame: 10, 30, 60, 120, 240 minutes after commencing the infusion of the tested agent and end of surgical procedure ]Alterations in arterio-jugular carbon dioxide difference (AjvCO2 [mmHg]), after intravenous infusion of equivalent doses of dexmedetomidine or placebo (normal saline)
- Changes in brain oxygen extraction ratio (O2Erbr) [ Time Frame: 10, 30, 60, 120, 240 minutes after commencing the infusion of the tested agent and end of surgical procedure ]Alterations in brain oxygen extraction ratio (O2Erbr [%]), after intravenous infusion of equivalent doses of dexmedetomidine or placebo (normal saline)

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.
Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years to 80 Years (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- ASA-PS 1-3 (American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification)
- Scheduled for elective or semi-elective craniotomy for brain tumor resection
- Signed informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
- History of craniotomy at the same site
- Morbid obesity
- Delirious person before surgery
- Preoperative heart rate (HR) <45 beats/min or second or third degree AV block
- Treatment with a-methyldopa, clonidine or other a2-adrenergic agonist
- Pregnancy
- Liver or renal failure

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT04266665
Greece | |
AHEPA University Hospital | |
Thessaloniki, Greece, 54636 |
Principal Investigator: | Georgia Tsaousi, Professor | Aristotle University Of Thessaloniki |
Responsible Party: | Georgia Tsaousi, Assistant Professor, Aristotle University Of Thessaloniki |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT04266665 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
DexProB |
First Posted: | February 12, 2020 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | February 15, 2022 |
Last Verified: | February 2022 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | No |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | No |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | No |
Product Manufactured in and Exported from the U.S.: | No |
dexmedetomidine brain oxygenation biomarkers |
neuroinflammation brain metabolism neurocognitive outcome |
Brain Neoplasms Hypoxia Central Nervous System Neoplasms Nervous System Neoplasms Neoplasms by Site Neoplasms Brain Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Nervous System Diseases Signs and Symptoms, Respiratory Dexmedetomidine Hypnotics and Sedatives |
Central Nervous System Depressants Physiological Effects of Drugs Analgesics, Non-Narcotic Analgesics Sensory System Agents Peripheral Nervous System Agents Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists Adrenergic alpha-Agonists Adrenergic Agonists Adrenergic Agents Neurotransmitter Agents Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action |