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PILLAR-XT Trial: Open Access Manuscript Published
July 31, 2025
Prospective Trial of Cerebrospinal Fluid Filtration After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage via Lumbar Catheter Extension (PILLAR-XT)
Volume 43, pages 934–946, (2025) | Original work
Authors: Spiros L. Blackburn, Marc A. Babi, Andrew W. Grande, Omar A. Choudhri, Erik F. Hauck, Christopher P. Kellner, Michael C. Giordano, Shivanand P. Lad & Aaron R. McCabe
Abstract
Background
There is a growing consensus that blood in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is deleterious to outcomes in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. The extracorporeal filtration of subarachnoid hemorrhage via spinal catheter extension study evaluated the safety, tolerability, and filtration curve of blood and its lysis products from hemorrhagic CSF using the Neurapheresis CSF Management System.
Methods
After aneurysm repair, a dual-lumen intrathecal catheter was inserted into the study participant’s spinal canal. CSF was extracorporeally filtered for up to 72 h, removing blood products from the lumbar cistern, and reintroducing filtered CSF to the thoracic subarachnoid space. Neurological examinations were performed every 2 h, computed tomography scans were captured five times, and CSF samples were evaluated for cell counts every 8 h. Clinical follow-up evaluations were conducted 2 and 30 days after treatment.
Results
Twenty-seven of 29 study participants (93%) had a catheter successfully inserted. The median rate of waste removal was 5.7 mL/hr (interquartile range 3.9–8.8), and the median CSF filtration duration was 37:00 h (interquartile range 24:03–38:52). CSF red blood cell (mean reduction of 86%) and protein cell counts (mean reduction of 82%) decreased much faster in Neurapheresis system–treated participants compared with published data from standard-of-care patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. From study participant screening through catheter removal, intracranial blood (evaluated via Hijdra Sum Score) decreased by 65%. In four study participants, there were a total of five adverse events, among whom one was determined per protocol to be a serious adverse event. All five events were mild or moderate severity and resolved with no clinical sequelae.
Conclusions
The Extracorporeal Filtration of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Via Spinal Catheter Extension study demonstrated the potential to significantly accelerate intracranial blood elimination based on imaging (Hijdra Sum Score) and CSF red blood cell and protein reduction measures via a closed-loop filtration system.
Citations
Blackburn, S.L., Babi, M.A., Grande, A.W. et al. Prospective Trial of Cerebrospinal Fluid Filtration After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage via Lumbar Catheter Extension (PILLAR-XT). Neurocrit Care 43, 934–946 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12028-025-02328-8