The Albumin in Acute Stroke Trial (ALIAS); Design and Methodology

Abstract

The trial will continue through 2010. The study is proceeding as planned.

Haemodilution for acute ischaemic stroke

“…We retrieved 14 full-text articles. For this update, we included three new studies (ALIAS-Part 1 2011; ALIAS-Part 2 2013; Balcarce 1991), and excluded 11 studies (Chen 2006; Grauer 1999; Morgenthaler 2010; Shin 2007; Staedt 1987; Staedt 1989; Staedt 1991; Strand 2002; Tessitore 1990; Woessner 2003; Zhang 1990). There are 21 included studies in this review (see Characteristics of included studies table).…”

“…We identified 21 independent RCTs of which 18 were published in peer-reviewed medical journals (ALIAS-Part 1 2011; ALIAS-Part 2 2013; Balcarce 1991; Frei 1987; Gilroy 1969; Goslinga 1992; HSSG 1989; IASSG 1988; Kaste 1976; Koller 1990; MAHST 1998; Mast 1991; Matthews 1976; Popa 1989; Rudolf 2002; Spudis 1973; SSSG 1987; Strand 1984). The results of one trial were only partly published but were available to us as a detailed lecture manuscript (Haass 1989), and are included in this review.…”

“…In the analyses, they were divided into hyper- and isovolaemic. In 12 of the trials, the administration of a plasma volume expander was not combined with venesection and was, therefore, defined as hypervolaemic (ALIAS-Part 1 2011; ALIAS-Part 2 2013; Bornstein 1981; Frei 1987; Gilroy 1969; Haass 1989; Hartmann 1987; Kaste 1976; MAHST 1998; Matthews 1976; Rudolf 2002; Spudis 1973). In one study, venesection was performed only if there were signs of volume overload; this trial was also considered as hypervolaemic (HSSG 1989).…”

“…One review author abstracted information from the three trials added in the 2002 update (Bornstein 1981; MAHST 1998; Rudolf 2002). Two review authors abstracted information from the three additional included trials in this 2014 update (ALIAS-Part 1 2011; ALIAS-Part 2 2013; Balcarce 1991). We entered the data into Review Manager 5 (RevMan 2012).…”

“…The present formal statistical overview includes the results from 21 independent RCTs of haemodilution in acute ischaemic stroke. Compared with the previous version in 2002, the present update includes three additional trials (ALIAS-Part 1 2011; ALIAS-Part 2 2013; Balcarce 1991). Additions include the ‘Risk of bias’ tool, reformatting of methods, sensitivity analysis and addition of sections throughout the text.…”