---
title: CASTRO-B - Study on CRP Apheresis in STROke Patients in Berlin
nct_id: NCT03884153
overall_status: UNKNOWN
phase: NA
sponsor: Charite University, Berlin, Germany
study_type: INTERVENTIONAL
primary_condition: Stroke, Ischemic
countries: Germany
canonical_url: "https://parkinsonspathways.com/agent/trials/NCT03884153.md"
clinicaltrials_gov: "https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03884153"
ct_last_update_post_date: 2022-03-25
last_seen_at: "2026-05-12T07:11:25.685Z"
source: ClinicalTrials.gov (mirrored, no enrichment)
---
# CASTRO-B - Study on CRP Apheresis in STROke Patients in Berlin

**Official Title:** Selective Depletion of C-reactive Protein (CRP) With Therapeutic Apheresis (CRP Apheresis) in Stroke

**NCT ID:** [NCT03884153](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03884153)

## Key Facts

- **Status:** UNKNOWN
- **Phase:** NA
- **Study Type:** INTERVENTIONAL
- **Target Enrollment:** 20
- **Lead Sponsor:** Charite University, Berlin, Germany
- **Collaborators:** NeuroCure Clinical Research Center, Charite, Berlin, Department of Nephrology and Internal Intensive Care Medicine, Charite, Berlin
- **Conditions:** Stroke, Ischemic
- **Start Date:** 2020-12-03
- **Completion Date:** 2022-12-31
- **CT.gov Last Update:** 2022-03-25

## Brief Summary

This study explores the use of CRP level reduction in patients after suffering from acute ischemic stroke. Using selective CRP-apheresis, the investigators aim to reduce the secondary inflammatory tissue damage in the course of infarction maturation using infarction growth in MRI as the primary outcome as a surrogate.

## Detailed Description

C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute-phase protein binding to phosphocholine, thereby marking damaged tissue. This in turn activates the complement system and the cellular immune system engaging the unspecific immune system in an inflammatory tissue-degrading reaction. Such a pattern is observed in ischemic stroke, and elevated CRP levels can be measured in stroke survivors' sera. Several observational studies reproduced higher CRP levels with negative outcome in stroke. In another vascular model disease, myocardial infarction, selective CRP apheresis reduced infarct size in humans. The investigators therefore designed this pilot study to explore the effects of selective CRP reduction in ischemic stroke patients.

## Eligibility

- **Minimum age:** 18 Years
- **Maximum age:** 85 Years
- **Sex:** ALL
- **Healthy Volunteers:** No

```
Inclusion Criteria:

* Age 18 - 85 years
* Informed consent signed by patient
* Patients with acute ischemic stroke in the Arteria cerebri media (MCA) territory within 36 hours of event
* Acute MRI with evidence of infarction
* NIHSS ≥ 4
* CRP \> 5 mg/l

Exclusion Criteria:

* Withdrawal of consent
* Systolic blood pressure \<100 mmHg before the apheresis
* Blood pressure relevant extra- and intracranial stenoses (NASCET 70)
* Apheresis contraindication
* Participation in other interventional studies
```

## Arms

- **CRP apheresis** (EXPERIMENTAL) — CRP apheresis by means of selective apheresis using the "PentraSorb"-CRP adsorber

## Interventions

- **CRP apheresis** (DEVICE) — selective CRP apheresis by use of the "PentraSorb"-CRP

## Primary Outcomes

- **Infarct growth** _(time frame: 5 ± 1 days after infarction)_ — Infarct growth measured via DWI-FLAIR volume change

## Secondary Outcomes

- **Infarct growth** _(time frame: 90 ± 14 days after infarction)_
- **Stroke Severity** _(time frame: 5 ± 1 days after infarction)_
- **Functional Outcome** _(time frame: 90 ± 14 days after infarction)_
- **Dependency** _(time frame: 90 ± 14 days after infarction)_
- **Cognitive Impairment** _(time frame: 90 ± 14 days after infarction)_
- **Quality of Life after Stroke via Stroke Impact Scale (SIS)** _(time frame: 90 ± 14 days after infarction)_
- **Incidence of Complications** _(time frame: 90 ± 14 days after infarction)_

## Locations (1)

- Zentrum für Schlaganfallforschung (CSB) / Klinik für Neurologie mit Experimenteller Neurologie der Charité, Berlin, Germany — _RECRUITING_

## Recent Field Changes (last 30 days)

- `status.overallStatus` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.primaryCompletionDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.completionDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.lastUpdatePostDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `design.phases` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `design.enrollmentCount` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.criteria` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.minAge` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.maxAge` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.sex` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `outcomes.primary` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `outcomes.secondary` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `armsInterventions.arms` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `armsInterventions.interventions` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `sponsor.lead` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `sponsor.collaborators` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `results.hasResults` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `locations.zentrum für schlaganfallforschung (csb) / klinik für neurologie mit experimenteller neurologie der charité|berlin||germany` — added _(2026-05-12)_

---

*Canonical: https://parkinsonspathways.com/agent/trials/NCT03884153.md*  
*Source data (authoritative): https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03884153*  
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