Use of Dexamethasone in Prevention of the Second Phase or a Biphasic Reaction of Anaphylaxis

Study Purpose

Anaphylaxis is an acute serious allergic reaction, with multi-organ system manifestations caused by the release of chemical mediators and it is potentially fatal . Between 5% and 14% of patients may experience a recurrence of anaphylaxis 8-12 hours after the initial presentation, called biphasic (late-phase) . The mainstay of treatment for children experiencing anaphylaxis remains adrenaline and H1-antihistamines. Corticosteroids are not life-saving and do not have an immediate effect on the symptoms of anaphylaxis but may help reduce or prevent a biphasic "late phase" reaction . The aim of this study is to compare the efficacy of oral glucocorticoids in prevention of the second phase or biphasic reaction of anaphylaxis, as compared to placebo in children, presenting to the pediatric emergency department (PEC Al-Sadd) with mild to moderate anaphylaxis (Prospective Study). Patients will be randomized to either one of the two treatment: Treatment 1: Dexamethasone 0.6mg/kg oral. Treatment 2 : Placebo All patients will be urgently treated for anaphylaxis according to guideline protocol. Enrolled patients will be given one of the study medications orally, and he /she will observe in the observation room with cardiac monitor and close monitoring by nurse. The treating physician will discharge patient when he/she looks well, breathing comfortably, has oxygen saturation >94%, stable blood pressure and no gastrointestinal or neurological manifestation. Discharge patients will be sent home on anti-histamine (cetirizine) for 5days. All patients will be followed up for one week post discharge by a phone call asking about the general condition, relapse of symptoms, or need for readmission.

Recruitment Criteria

Accepts Healthy Volunteers Healthy volunteers are participants who do not have a disease or condition, or related conditions or symptoms	Yes
Study Type An interventional clinical study is where participants are assigned to receive one or more interventions (or no intervention) so that researchers can evaluate the effects of the interventions on biomedical or health-related outcomes. An observational clinical study is where participants identified as belonging to study groups are assessed for biomedical or health outcomes. Searching Both is inclusive of interventional and observational studies.	Interventional
Eligible Ages	3 Months - 14 Years
Gender	All

More Inclusion & Exclusion Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

- All patients 3 monthes-14years presenting to the Pediatric Emergency Department (AlSadd) with mild to moderate anaphylaxis.

Exclusion Criteria:

Patients with severe anaphylaxis. Patient with history of immunological diseases. Patients on steroids therapy Patient with moderate-severe asthma on medication Patients with severe asthma

Trial Details

Trial ID: This trial id was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, providing information on publicly and privately supported clinical studies of human participants with locations in all 50 States and in 196 countries.	NCT03523221
Phase Phase 1: Studies that emphasize safety and how the drug is metabolized and excreted in humans. Phase 2: Studies that gather preliminary data on effectiveness (whether the drug works in people who have a certain disease or condition) and additional safety data. Phase 3: Studies that gather more information about safety and effectiveness by studying different populations and different dosages and by using the drug in combination with other drugs. Phase 4: Studies occurring after FDA has approved a drug for marketing, efficacy, or optimal use.	Phase 1
Lead Sponsor The sponsor is the organization or person who oversees the clinical study and is responsible for analyzing the study data.	Hamad Medical Corporation
Principal Investigator The person who is responsible for the scientific and technical direction of the entire clinical study.	Khalid Al ansari, FRCP
Principal Investigator Affiliation	Hamad Medical Corporation
Agency Class Category of organization(s) involved as sponsor (and collaborator) supporting the trial.	Industry
Overall Status	Recruiting
Countries	Qatar
Conditions The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied.	Anaphylaxis

Additional Details

Anaphylaxis is an acute serious allergic reaction, with multi-organ system manifestations caused by the release of chemical mediators . It requires immediate recognition and intervention. The estimated rate of anaphylaxis in children was 10.5 per 100,000 persons-years . Although the Rochester Epidemiology Project showed a rate of 75.1 per 100,000 person-years in children aged 9 years and 65.2 per 100,000 person-years in children aged 10-19-years old. In the state of Qatar with approximately 280,000 visits annually to Pediatric Emergency Center (PEC), there were 171 cases of anaphylaxis seen at the facility from September 2015 to September 2016. Anaphylaxis is a clinical diagnosis based on typical systemic manifestations, due to exposure to a causative agent. There are many possible triggers, including food, medication, insect venoms, rubber latex and vaccines . In some individuals, anaphylaxis is idiopathic. Both IgE and non-IgE activation of mast cells and basophils that results in the release and production of several inflammatory and vasoactive substances, these substances most commonly involve the skin, respiratory, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal systems. As a result, urticarial, angioedema, bronchospasm, laryngospasm, increased vascular permeability and decreased vascular tone. Anaphylaxis involves a range of signs and symptoms from hives, wheezing and angioedema to cardiovascular collapse and death [9,10]. More than 80% of the patients will present with flushing, itching, hives, angioedema, or other skin or mucosal symptoms. Generally up to 70%, at least 2 organ systems (skin, respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal systems) are involved; however, only 10-45% have cardiovascular symptoms, including chest pain, hypotension, or shock . Between 5% and 14% of patients may experience a recurrence of anaphlactoid reaction 8-12 hours after the initial presentation, called Biphasic (late-phase) . Most of these reactions are mild or moderate . Risk factors for biphasic reactions include a severe initial reaction; presence of laryngeal edema or hypotension; delay in the administration of adrenaline (epinephrine); too small a dose of adrenaline; and a history of a previous biphasic reaction . Delayed symptoms can develop despite treatment . The mainstay of treatment for children experiencing anaphylaxis remains adrenaline 1:1000 intramuscularly (IM) . H1-antihistamines are also commonly administered in anaphylaxis. The combination of H1 and H2 antihistamines appears to be more effective, especially for cutaneous symptoms . The onset of activity of these agents is slower than epinephrine and is considered next-in-line treatment. International guidelines consider antihistamines and glucocorticoids as second-line . Corticosteroids are not life-saving and do not have an immediate effect on the symptoms of anaphylaxis, since it takes 4-6 hours to work. Glucocorticoids are administered to 50% of individuals with anaphylaxis, despite a lack of compelling evidence supporting their use. Recent retrospective study in emergency department, evaluated the association between glucocorticoids administration and prolonged length of stay. In 4years retrospective chart review study on anaphylaxis patient, 70% of study patients received glucocorticoids as part of their treatment. Glucocorticoids were not found to reduce follow up revisit in the three days post discharge. And it didn't decrease the likelihood of extra epinephrine need for flare of symptoms, and only found to decrease length of stay in severe anaphylaxis. The existing evidence for the use of glucocorticoids appears to consist mainly of retrospective studies, case reports, and other descriptive literature. The need exists, however, for a prospective study on the use of glucocorticoids in the treatment of anaphylaxis and its effectiveness in prevention of biphasic reaction. The objective of the current study, therefore, is to complement the current research on anaphylaxis and to investigate if glucocorticoids are effective in the treatment of anaphylaxis and if it can prevent or limit biphasic reaction. This will be the first randomized controlled trial to look at steroid use in anaphylaxis and its impact on anaphylaxis treatment on a prospective fashion which will be used to help standardize care in the use of steroid for this common condition.

Arms & Interventions

Arms

Active Comparator: Dexamethasone arm

All patients will be Urgently treated for anaphylaxis according to guideline protocol. Enrolled patients will be given one of study medication orally, and he /she will observe in the observation room with cardiac monitor and close monitoring by nurse.

Placebo Comparator: Placebo arm

Interventions

Drug: - Dexamethasone Oral

use of one dose of Dexamethasone orally.or placebo in addition to regular treatment of anaphylaxis

Contact a Trial Team

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International Sites

Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar

Status

Recruiting

Address

Hamad Medical Corporation

Doha, , 3050

Site Contact

Rafah Sayyed, MD

ralsayyed@hamad.qa

+97455747045

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