The HIP trial is a large pragmatic, multinational, randomised trial of two different strategies for the management of hypotension in extremely low gestational age newborns (Standard with dopamine versus a restricted with placebo approach).
HYPOTHESIS: A restricted approach to the management of hypotension in extremely low gestational age newborns will result in improved neonatal and long-term developmental outcomes.
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a restricted approach to the management of hypotension compared to using dopamine as first line pressor agent in infants born less than 28 weeks of gestation within the first 72 hrs after birth (transitional period), improves survival without significant brain injury at 36 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA) and improves survival without moderate or severe neurodevelopmental disability at 2 years corrected age.
Who can participate
Age range
23 Weeks – 27 Weeks
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion criteria
. Gestational age at birth less than 28 completed weeks, i.e. up to and including 27 weeks and 6 days.
. Within 72 hours of birth
. An indwelling arterial line, either umbilical or peripheral (e.g. radial, posterior tibial), suitably calibrated and zeroed, to monitor BP with the measuring dome at the level of the infant's mid-axillary line when supine
. A pre-trial cerebral ultrasound scan demonstrating no evidence of grade 3 or 4 haemorrhage intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH)(i.e. intraparenchymal echodensity or echolucency, with or without acquired cerebral ventriculomegaly)
. A mean blood pressure 1 mmHg or more below a mean BP value equivalent to the gestational age in completed weeks, which persists over a 15 minute period (mean BP \< gestational age)
Exclusion criteria
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
First Co-Primary Outcome Measure: Survival to 36 weeks postmenstrual age free of severe brain injury
Timeframe: 36 weeks
2
Second Co-Primary Outcome Measure: Survival without moderate or serious disability as defined using consensus criteria for neurodevelopmental impairment.