Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34579671›Full record

ArticleBMC pediatrics2021

Study protocol: DexaDays-2, hydrocortisone for treatment of dexamethasone-induced neurobehavioral side effects in pediatric leukemia patients: a double-blind placebo controlled randomized intervention study with cross-over design.

A M van Hulst, E J Verwaaijen, M F Fiocco, S M F Pluijm, M A Grootenhuis, R Pieters, E L T van den Akker, M M van den Heuvel-Eibrink

Open access · goldAbstract readClinical Trial Protocol
In one paragraph

Article in BMC pediatrics, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
3.3field-weighted citation impact, top 8% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 10 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Review
  6. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

A M van HulstPrincess Maxima Center, Heidelberglaan 25, 3584 CS, Utrecht, The Netherlands. a.vanhulst@prinsesmaximacentrum.nl.
E J VerwaaijenPrincess Maxima Center, Heidelberglaan 25, 3584 CS, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
M F FioccoPrincess Maxima Center, Heidelberglaan 25, 3584 CS, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
S M F PluijmPrincess Maxima Center, Heidelberglaan 25, 3584 CS, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
M A GrootenhuisPrincess Maxima Center, Heidelberglaan 25, 3584 CS, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
R PietersPrincess Maxima Center, Heidelberglaan 25, 3584 CS, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
E L T van den AkkerErasmus MC- Sophia Children's Hospital, Wytemaweg 80, 3015 CE, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
M M van den Heuvel-EibrinkPrincess Maxima Center, Heidelberglaan 25, 3584 CS, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Princess Máxima Center · NLErasmus MC - Sophia Children’s Hospital · NLLeiden University · NL

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDexamethasone, a highly effective drug in treating pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), can induce serious neurobehavioral side effects. These side effects are experienced by patients and parents as detrimental with respect to health related quality of life (HRQoL). Based on previous studies, it has been suggested that neurobehavioral side effects are associated to cortisol depletion of the mineralocorticoid receptor in the brain. Our previously reported randomized controlled trial, the Dexadagen study (NTR3280), suggests that physiological hydrocortisone addition during dexamethasone treatment may overcome clinically relevant neurobehavioral problems in patients who experience these problems during dexamethasone treatment. With our current study, we aim to replicate these results in a targeted larger sample before further implementing this intervention into standard of care.

methodsIn a national center setting, pediatric ALL patients between 3 and 18 years are enrolled in an Identification study, which identifies patients with clinically relevant dexamethasone-induced neurobehavioral side effects using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Contributing factors, such as genetic susceptibility, dexamethasone pharmacokinetics as well as psychosocial and family factors are studied to determine their influence in the inter-patient variability for developing dexamethasone-induced neurobehavioral side effects. Patients with clinically relevant problems (i.e. a rise of ≥ 5 points on the SDQ Total Difficulties Score after 5 days of dexamethasone) are subsequently included in a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial with a cross-over design. They receive two courses placebo followed by two courses hydrocortisone during dexamethasone treatment, or vice versa, each time at least 16 days without study medication in between. The primary endpoint is change in SDQ score. The secondary endpoints are sleep (measured with actigraphy and the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children) and HRQoL (Pediatric Quality of Life Questionnaire). DISCUSSION: The results of our current study may contribute to the management of future ALL patients who experience dexamethasone-induced neuropsychological problems as it may improve HRQoL for patients who suffer most from dexamethasone-induced neurobehavioral side effects. Furthermore, by investigating multiple risk factors that could be related to inter-patient variability in developing these side effects, we might be able to identify and treat patients who are at risk earlier during treatment.

trial registrationMedical Ethical Committee approval number: NL62388.078.17. Affiliation: Erasmus Medical Centre. Netherlands Trial Register: NL6507 ( NTR6695 ). Registered 5 September 2017.

Indexed as

HydrocortisonePrecursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-LymphomaChildCross-Over StudiesDexamethasoneDouble-Blind MethodHumansQuality of LifeRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicDexamethasoneHydrocortisoneAcute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)BehaviorDexamethasoneHealth Related Quality of LifeHydrocortisoneMoodNeurobehavioral Side EffectsRandomized Controlled TrialSleep

Identifiers

PMID34579671
PMCPMC8474814
OpenAlexW3203952242

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.