Effect of intravenous corticosteroids on death within 14 days in 10008 adults with clinically significant head injury (MRC CRASH trial): randomised placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Corticosteroids have been used to treat head injuries for more than 30 years. In 1997, findings of a systematic review suggested that these drugs reduce risk of death by 1-2%. The CRASH trial--a multicentre international collaboration--aimed to confirm or refute such an effect by recruit...

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Published in:Lancet Vol. 364; no. 9442; pp. 1321 - 1329
Main Authors: Roberts, Ian, Yates, David, Sandercock, Peter, Farrell, Barbara, Wasserberg, Jonathan, Lomas, Gabrielle, Cottingham, Rowland, Svoboda, Petr, Brayley, Nigel, Mazairac, Guy, Laloë, Véronique, Muñoz-Sánchez, Angeles, Arango, Miguel, Hartzenberg, Bennie, Khamis, Hussein, Yutthakasemsunt, Surakrant, Komolafe, Edward, Olldashi, Fatos, Yadav, Yadram, Murillo-Cabezas, Francisco
Format: clinical trial research tables/charts Journal Article
Published: Lancet 10/9/2004
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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      dt: 10/9/2004
      vid: 364
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      pub: Lancet
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        2009057025
        10.1016/s0140-6736(04)17188-2
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        atl: Effect of intravenous corticosteroids on death within 14 days in 10008 adults with clinically significant head injury (MRC CRASH trial): randomised placebo-controlled trial.
      aug:
        au:
          Roberts, Ian
          Yates, David
          Sandercock, Peter
          Farrell, Barbara
          Wasserberg, Jonathan
          Lomas, Gabrielle
          Cottingham, Rowland
          Svoboda, Petr
          Brayley, Nigel
          Mazairac, Guy
          Laloë, Véronique
          Muñoz-Sánchez, Angeles
          Arango, Miguel
          Hartzenberg, Bennie
          Khamis, Hussein
          Yutthakasemsunt, Surakrant
          Komolafe, Edward
          Olldashi, Fatos
          Yadav, Yadram
          Murillo-Cabezas, Francisco
      sug:
        subj:
          Head Injuries Drug Therapy
          Head Injuries Mortality
          Methylprednisolone Therapeutic Use
          Adolescence
          Adult
          Africa
          Asia
          Chi Square Test
          Clinical Trials
          Confidence Intervals
          Europe
          Female
          Glasgow Coma Scale
          Head Injuries Radiography
          Infusions, Intravenous
          Male
          Methylprednisolone Administration and Dosage
          Middle Age
          Mortality Risk Factors
          Placebos
          Questionnaires
          Random Assignment
          Severity of Injury
          South America
          Tomography, X-Ray Computed
          Trauma Severity Indices
          Funding Source
          Human
          Adolescent: 13-18 years
          Adult: 19-44 years
          Middle Aged: 45-64 years
          Female
          Male
      ab: Background: Corticosteroids have been used to treat head injuries for more than 30 years. In 1997, findings of a systematic review suggested that these drugs reduce risk of death by 1-2%. The CRASH trial--a multicentre international collaboration--aimed to confirm or refute such an effect by recruiting 20000 patients. In May, 2004, the data monitoring committee disclosed the unmasked results to the steering committee, which stopped recruitment. Methods: 10008 adults with head injury and a Glasgow coma score (GCS) of 14 or less within 8 h of injury were randomly allocated 48 h infusion of corticosteroids (methylprednisolone) or placebo. Primary outcomes were death within 2 weeks of injury and death or disability at 6 months. Prespecified subgroup analyses were based on injury severity (GCS) at randomisation and on time from injury to randomisation. Analysis was by intention to treat. Effects on outcomes within 2 weeks of randomisation are presented in this report. This study is registered as an International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial, number ISRCTN74459797. Findings: Compared with placebo, the risk of death from all causes within 2 weeks was higher in the group allocated corticosteroids (1052 [21.1%] vs 893 [17.9%] deaths; relative risk 1.18 [95% CI 1.09-1.27]; p=0.0001). The relative increase in deaths due to corticosteroids did not differ by injury severity (p=0.22) or time since injury (p=0.05). Interpretation: Our results show there is no reduction in mortality with methylprednisolone in the 2 weeks after head injury. The cause of the rise in risk of death within 2 weeks is unclear.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        clinical trial
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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