Spectroscopic and Diffusion Weighted Analysis of the Effects of Dexamethasone on High Altitude Cerebral Oedema (HACE)
Status:
Suspended
Trial end date:
2021-09-04
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
When the brain detects a drop in oxygen levels in the blood (hypoxia) there is a compensatory
increase in blood flow. Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is a cluster of symptoms which commonly
occur in those ascending to high altitude and experiencing hypoxia due to increased blood
flow and then swelling in the brain. Symptoms include headache, nausea, insomnia and fatigue.
The exact mechanisms by which AMS develops remains poorly understood. Dexamethasone has been
shown to reduce the risk of developing significant brain swelling in other settings.
Therefore we hypothesise that administering low dose Dexamethasone could protect against
hypoxia induced cerebral and spinal oedema.
Phase:
Phase 1
Details
Lead Sponsor:
University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust