Clinical Research Directory

Adaptive Blood Purification for the Treatment of Patients With Septic Shock

There is a lack of evidence in the efficacy of extracorporeal blood purification (EBP) to reduce the mortality rate in septic shock. We have designed the EABPSS (Efficacy of Adaptive Blood Purification for Septic Shock) study to confirm whether adaptive blood purification (ABP) intervention could confer a clinical benefit. In this multicenter, open-label, randomized controlled trial, We are recruiting a total of 276 patients with septic shock. Eligible patients who provide informed consent will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either the control group or the intervention group. Patients in the control group will receive standard care according to the Surviving Sepsis Guidelines. Patients in the intervention group will receive two 6-hour sessions of ABP treatment within 24 hours of enrollment, based on standard care. ABP is a novel, adaptive EBP strategy proposed by our research team, specifically, for patients with septic shock do not require renal replacement therapy (RRT), plasma filtration-adsorption (PFAD) will be used alone, and for patients with septic shock and acute kidney injury meeting RRT indications, a combination of PFAD-RRT will be employed. The primary endpoint of this study is all-cause mortality at 90 days after enrollment. Secondary endpoints of the study include the declining proportion of serum cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and HMGB1 within 24 hours after enrollment. Additionally, the study will evaluate the improvement of Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score on day 7 post-enrollment, as well as the 30-day mortality rate.

GM-CSF to Decrease ICU Acquired Infections

The concept of acquired immunodeficiency after a first severe infection in the ICU is widely described in the literature. There is a dual risk: increased mortality and increased secondary infections. Several approaches of immunostimulatory treatments have been proposed in the literature. The treatment proposed by this study consists of the administration of Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), colony stimulating factor widely used particularly in the USA where it is marketed. A phase 2 clinical trial was conducted in Germany in 2009. The main objective is to measure the incidence of ICU-acquired infections in 2 groups of patients treated by GM-CSF or placebo. ICU patients at risk are defined as surviving at D3 from a severe sepsis or septic shock and presenting a sepsis associated immunodepression. The detection of immunosuppressed patients will be achieved by measuring the HLA-DR (Human Leucocyte Antigen DR)with a threshold of less to 8000 sites. Our hypothesis is that the number of secondary infections (primary endpoint) will be significantly reduced in the treated group.

A Trial of Vitamin B12 in Septic Shock

This study will randomize 20 septic shock patients to receive either a single 5 gram dose of IV vitamin B12 (Cyanokit® Meridian Medical Technologies, Columbia, MD) versus placebo in addition to standard of care to test the feasibility of completing clinical and laboratory protocols.

Cerebral Hemodynamics and Oxygenation in Critically Ill Patients

Critically-ill patients frequently experience marked changes in mean arterial pressure and carbon dioxide partial arterial pressure, the two major determinants of the cerebral blood flow. In addition, many therapeutics (fluids, vasopressors or inotropes administration, blood transfusion, prone positioning...) can influence these two determinants of cerebral blood flow and thus cerebral blood flow, especially in patients with altered cerebral autoregulation. Nevertheless, cerebral hemodynamics and oxygenation, as well as the effects of the different therapeutics on it have been poorly studied in critically-ill patients. In addition, it has been suggested that impaired cerebral blood flow and impaired cerebral microcirculation may be involved in the pathophysiology of septic encephalopathy in patients with sepsis and/or septic shock. In this study, we aimed to characterize and investigate the effects of different therapeutics on cerebral hemodynamics and oxygenation in critically-ill patients.

Mechanistic Assessment of Norepinephrine Therapy vs. Angiotensin-II in Septic Shock

Despite best therapy efforts, sepsis and septic shock are associated with mortality rates of up to 40%. This clinical trial will determine the benefit of exogenous Angiotensin II versus norepinephrine (conventional care) treatment in septic shock patients. This trial will determine whether there are better predictors of septic shock severity. This approach may inform more appropriate treatment regimens and improve outcomes for these patients.

Focused Ultrasound Spleen Stimulation and Inflammation in Septic Shock

This study evaluates the safety and effectiveness of focused ultrasound spleen neuromodulation in patients with septic shock, a life-threatening condition characterized by excessive inflammation and organ dysfunction. The primary objective is to determine whether non-invasive, focused ultrasound stimulation of the spleen can reduce circulating inflammatory cytokine levels in this patient population. Eligibility Criteria: Adults aged 18 years or older Diagnosed with septic shock and admitted to the ICU within 24 hours Expected to require intensive care for at least 72 hours Study Protocol: Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: Intervention Group: Will receive standard septic shock care plus twice-daily focused ultrasound stimulation over the spleen for five days, using a portable device. Control Group: Will receive standard septic shock care alone. Blood samples will be collected at baseline and Day 5 to measure inflammatory cytokine levels, including TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10. Additional assessments will include lymphocyte subpopulations, organ function scores, ICU length of stay, 28-day mortality, and adverse events. Outcome Measures: Primary: Change in levels of inflammatory cytokines on Day 5. Secondary: Changes in organ function (SOFA score), ICU length of stay, 28-day survival, and safety/tolerability of the intervention.

Cortisol Levels and Mortality in Septic Shock ICU Patients

This prospective observational study aims to evaluate the prognostic value of cortisol levels and their dynamic changes in critically ill patients with sepsis and septic shock admitted to the intensive care unit. Cortisol plays a crucial role in maintaining hemodynamic stability and modulating the inflammatory response during critical illness, and relative adrenal insufficiency has been associated with worse clinical outcomes. Adult patients admitted to the intensive care unit with sepsis or septic shock will be enrolled and followed prospectively. Serum cortisol levels will be measured, and their association with clinical outcomes, including intensive care unit mortality, 28-day mortality, and 90-day mortality, will be analyzed. In addition, the relationship between cortisol levels and disease severity scores such as SOFA and APACHE, as well as laboratory parameters including inflammatory biomarkers, will be evaluated. The findings of this study are expected to contribute to the early identification of high-risk patients and improve prognostic assessment in critically ill patients with sepsis and septic shock.

Validation of the Use of the Arteriovenous Tension Difference in CO2 Under Hyperbaric Conditions

The central venous-arterial carbon dioxide tension difference is used daily in intensive care to establish peripheral tissue hypoperfusion, mainly mediated by a low cardiac index. The partial pressures of gases (oxygen, carbon dioxide) increase in the blood of patients breathing 100% oxygen in hyperbaric conditions. Thus, the validity of this biomarker in situations of acute circulatory failure during a hyperbaric oxygen therapy session has not been established. The objective of the study is therefore to establish the diagnostic performance of the central venous-arterial carbon dioxide tension difference in the diagnosis of a low cardiac index in patients with septic shock undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy for necrotizing fasciitis.

Clinical Efficacy of Megadose Vitamin C in Sepsis

In this multicenter, randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Patients will be randomly assigned to receive Vitamin C or placebo for 4 days or until ICU discharge (whatever come first). The primary outcome is 28-day all-cause mortality.

Monocyte Distribution Width (MDW) in the General Population of Emergency Department Patients With and Without Bacteremia

This project will evaluate the usefulness of Monocyte Distribution Width (MDW) for the diagnosis of blood culture positivity (BSI) in patients in the Emergency Department (ED) and reevaluate the usefulness of MDW in patients with BSI and sepsis. Consequently, if MDW indicate a high likelihood of bacteremia antibiotic management in patients with suspected bacterial infections will be changed and aid appropriate antibiotic administration.

NAI for Sepsis With Persistent Lymphopenia

This is a Phase 2, randomized, open-label study evaluating the safety and efficacy of nogapendekin alfa inbakicept (NAI, ANKTIVA®) in combination with standard of care versus standard of care alone in critically ill adults with sepsis and persistent lymphopenia. The study aims to determine whether NAI can improve 28-day mortality by addressing the immunosuppressive phase of sepsis characterized by persistent lymphopenia (absolute lymphocyte count \<1,000 cells/µL). Participants will be randomized 1:1 to receive either NAI 1.2 mg subcutaneous injection on Days 3 (or earlier if ALC \<700 cells/µL), Day 14, and potentially Day 21 if ALC remains \<1,000 cells/µL, plus standard of care, or standard of care alone. The study will enroll approximately 50 participants (25 per arm) with persistent lymphopenia.

Evaluation of the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) as a Risk Factor of Mortality in Adult Patients ≤65 Years of Age Admitted to Intensive Care for Septic Shock.

The aim of the study is to demonstrate that "frail" patients, defined as having a CFS score greater than or equal to 5, and "severely" frail patients, defined as having a CFS score between \[6-7\] as defined by Bagshaw et al (14), constitute an independent risk factor (RF) for mortality. In the same way, as an exploratory study, we will try to find out whether clinical frailty constitutes a risk factor for extending the length of hospital stay, the risk of short/medium-term readmission, as has already been demonstrated for patients admitted to intensive care from all causes (15), or for impaired quality of life. The objective is to have a better understanding of the implications and outcomes associated with pre-hospital frailty in young critically ill patients. This analysis will also help to clarify prognoses and contribute to better decision-making on the intensity and proportionality of care, as well as providing better information and helping to manage the expectations of patients and their families in terms of survival prognosis and subsequent quality of life.

Validation of SOFA-2 for Mortality and Sepsis-3 Prevalence in Turkey

The goal of this observational study is to validate the effectiveness of the new SOFA-2 score in predicting mortality and to determine the current frequency of sepsis in adult patients admitted to Intensive Care Units (ICUs) in Turkey. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does the SOFA-2 score accurately predict 30-day mortality in ICU patients? * What is the prevalence of Sepsis-3 and septic shock in Turkish ICUs? Researchers will compare the new SOFA-2 score to the existing SOFA-1 score to see if the new score provides better predictive accuracy for patient outcomes. Participants will not receive any experimental intervention. Researchers will collect data from routine medical care, including: * Vital signs, laboratory test results, and details of organ support (such as mechanical ventilation or dialysis) during the first 24 hours of admission. * Survival status at 30 days.

Comparison of Angiotensin II to Standard Dose Vasopressors on Change in Arterial Elastance

A study to see whether a medication called Angiotensin II works better than the routinely used medication to raise blood pressure in people with liver disease who are experiencing a serious drop in blood pressure. The investigators want to find out if Angiotensin II can help the heart and blood vessels work together more effectively than standard treatments.

Protocolised Early De-Resuscitation in Septic Shock (REDUCE)

Background: Recent studies have questioned the safety of current fluid resuscitation strategies in patients with septic shock as prospective and observational data suggesting that the resulting fluid overload is associated with mortality. Two strategies have evolved to prevent or minimize fluid overload: restrictive fluid administration or active removal of accumulated fluid. While several small trials show benefits with a restrictive fluid administration regimen, active protocolized de-resuscitation was scarcely evaluated. The combination of both strategies yet warrants systematic evaluation. Aim: This study aims to assess the efficacy and feasibility of an early active de-resuscitation protocol in patients with septic shock. We hypothesize that the application of a structured early de-resuscitation protocol versus standard of care will lead to less fluid overload at day three after ICU admission. Study Intervention: Patients admitted to the ICU with confirmed or suspected septic shock (Sepsis-3 definition) will be randomized (1:1) to either the intervention or standard of care. In the intervention arm, patients are managed according to the REDUCE fluid management protocol during resuscitation and de-resuscitation.

Veno-arterial Carbon Dioxide Partial Pressure Difference (CO2gap) for Early Resuscitation of Septic Shock

Sepsis is a dysregulated host response to infection that leads to life-threatening organ dysfunction and represents a major healthcare problem. Septic shock is the most severe form, characterized by increased capillary permeability and vasodilation, resulting in hypotension and tissue hypoxia. Early identification and treatment of tissue hypoperfusion are pivotal components of initial resuscitation to limit progression to multiple organ dysfunction and death. The 2021 Surviving Sepsis Guidelines recommend guiding initial resuscitation by targeting decreases in serum lactate levels in patients with elevated lactate. However, although elevated lactate levels may reflect tissue hypoxia, serum lactate is not a direct marker of tissue perfusion. Hyperlactatemia may be attributable to mechanisms other than tissue hypoperfusion, such as accelerated aerobic glycolysis driven by excessive β-adrenergic stimulation or impaired clearance (e.g., in liver failure). The venous-to-arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure difference (CO₂ gap), which is inversely related to cardiac output, has been shown to reflect the adequacy of venous blood flow to remove CO₂ from tissues. The CO₂ gap is closely linked to microcirculatory blood flow during the early resuscitation phase of septic shock and may effectively identify persistent tissue hypoperfusion in shock states. A persistently high CO₂ gap during early resuscitation has been associated with significantly higher 28-day mortality and increased Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores. Moreover, the CO₂ gap has been shown to respond to changes in cardiac output during inotrope infusion in patients with low blood flow, suggesting that its assessment could be useful for therapeutic adjustments. Therefore, there are compelling arguments to evaluate the usefulness of the CO₂ gap in guiding early resuscitation in patients with septic shock. The investigators postulated that CO₂ gap-guided early resuscitation may be more effective in improving outcomes than lactate-guided resuscitation.

Early Norepinephrine Administration and Rapid Dose Adjustment

The goal of this clinical trial is to determine whether early initiation of norepinephrine with rapid dose adjustment improves clinical outcomes in adult patients with septic shock. The study aims to evaluate the effect of early norepinephrine administration on mortality, hemodynamic stabilization, and resuscitation efficiency in adults aged 18 years and older diagnosed with septic shock. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does early norepinephrine administration with rapid dose titration reduce 28-day mortality compared with standard treatment? * Does early norepinephrine administration with rapid dose tiration lead to faster shock control and reduced fluid requirements without increasing treatment-related adverse events? Researchers will compare early norepinephrine administration with rapid dose adjustment to placebo with standard sequential resuscitation and rescue norepinephrine as needed to see if early vasopressor initiation improves survival, shock resolution, and safety outcomes. Participants will: * Receive either norepinephrine or placebo infusion initiated within one hour of septic shock diagnosis, with dose adjustment every 15 minutes according to a standardized protocol * Undergo close hemodynamic and safety monitoring, including frequent vital sign assessment and limb perfusion evaluation * Receive standard sepsis care, including fluid resuscitation, antibiotics, and organ support as clinically indicated * Be followed for clinical outcomes and adverse events for up to 28 days after enrollment

Effect of oXiris Hemofilter Use in Septic Shock: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study

This study aims to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of the oXiris® hemofilter in patients with septic shock and acute kidney injury (AKI) requiring continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). While some studies suggest that oXiris® may improve hemodynamic stability by removing endotoxins and cytokines, its impact on survival remains inconsistent.To provide more reliable causal evidence, this multicenter retrospective cohort study utilizes a Target Trial Emulation (TTE) approach. The study will compare patients treated with the oXiris® filter to those treated with standard CRRT filters, focusing on in-hospital mortality and other clinical outcomes such as fluid balance and vasopressor requirements.

Comparative Efficacy and Safety of Propofol-Ketamine Combination Versus Propofol Monotherapy in Geriatric Patients Under Invasive Ventilation

The study is a prospective randomized controlled trial comparing the efficacy and safety of propofol-ketamine ("Ketofol") versus propofol monotherapy in geriatric ICU patients. Eligible participants are critically ill elderly patients with a history of cardiac disease who require endotracheal intubation and have not yet received sedation. The investigators focus on a specific population in which geriatric patients have different pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and are more prone to side effects than other populations. Primary outcome: Incidence of hemodynamic instability (defined as hypotension requiring vasopressors), measured by mean arterial pressure (MAP) at baseline, during intubation, and post-intubation at 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, 30, and 60 minutes, then hourly for 24 hours.

In Vivo Antibiotics Removal During Hemoadsorption Cartridges and Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy in the Intensive Care Unit

The purpose of this study is to measure the change in plasma concentrations of antibiotics used during passage through the CRRT filter and hemadsorption cartridge in patients with septic shock and renal failure requiring CRRT. All patients aged \> 18 years, admitted to the ICU, diagnosed with septic shock and renal failure requiring CRRT, receiving antibiotic therapy with at least one of the following drugs: meropenem, linezolid, and daptomycin, who provided informed consent, are included in the study. Patients not admitted to the ICU, patients with renal failure not requiring CRRT, patients aged \< 18 years, or those who did not provide informed consent are excluded. The enrollment period will last 12 months and will run from September 2024 to September 2025. The expected number of patients enrolled is twenty. To proceed with the study, after starting antibiotic therapy, a 4 ml dose of blood will be drawn (Vacuette tube ref. 454092) before the cartridge, immediately after, and after the dialysis filter. This measurement will be repeated after 4, 8, and 12 hours, which represents the maximum usage time of the cartridge. After 12 hours, the cartridge becomes saturated and loses its adsorption capacity. The CRRT filter, however, remains in place for at least 72 hours before being replaced. Treatment is maintained until clinically necessary. For patients in intensive care, several blood samples are required throughout the day, both with a blood sample sent to the biochemistry laboratory every 6-8 hours to check clinical conditions, and with an arterial blood sample (blood gas) to check respiratory and metabolic status in patients on mechanical ventilation. Furthermore, in patients undergoing CRRT, electrolyte balance must be monitored every 4 hours. Therefore, the blood sample for the study inevitably coincides with one of the routine blood samples. The test tube, labeled with a unique code, will be sent to the central laboratory, which will centrifuge the blood and extract the plasma. This aliquot will then be stored at -80°C in a dedicated space and sent to the designated laboratory upon analysis. Determination of the plasma dosage of the antibiotic in use is commonly performed on patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, where clinically necessary. Participation in the study does not change current clinical practices.

Study SOLACE SEPSIS

A Pilot, Randomized, Double-Blinded, Controlled Study of Hemodynamic and Acid Base Effects of 0.5M Sodium Lactate and 3% Saline Solutions in Septic Shock Patients

Blood Purification for the Treatment of Pathogen Associated Shock

This study is a multi-center, randomized controlled feasibility trial to evaluate the initial safety and efficacy of a novel extracorporeal blood purification (EBP) therapy in critically ill patients with pathogen associated shock across 15 U.S. sites. Adults (18 years old and older) admitted to the ICU with all of the following: • Pathogen associated shock defined as: * The need for vasopressors to maintain mean arterial pressure (MAP) ≥ 65 mmHg despite adequate fluid resuscitation * Presence of a pathogen detected in the bloodstream within 72 hours of screening using commercially available in-vitro diagnostic testing

Peripheral Perfusion Index-guided Fluid Resuscitation for Preventing Acute Skin Failure in Elderly Critically Ill Patients

This prospective, randomized, controlled trial aimed to evaluate whether fluid resuscitation guided by the Peripheral Perfusion Index (PPI) could reduce the incidence of Acute Skin Failure (ASF) in elderly critically ill patients. A total of 216 patients aged ≥65 years with sepsis or other types of shock requiring early aggressive fluid resuscitation were enrolled and randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either the PPI-guided resuscitation group or the conventional resuscitation group. The intervention group targeted maintaining PPI ≥1.4 in addition to conventional hemodynamic goals, while the control group followed standard resuscitation protocols. The primary outcome was the incidence of ASF within 7 days of ICU admission, diagnosed according to NPUAP/EPUAP (2014) criteria. Secondary outcomes included time to ASF occurrence, lactate clearance, cumulative fluid balance, organ function, and long-term prognosis.

Safety and Efficacy of Polymyxin B Hemoperfusion (PMX) for Endotoxemic Septic Shock in a Randomized, Open-Label Study

Prospective, multicenter, randomized, open-label study of standard of care plus the PMX cartridge versus standard of care alone in patients with endotoxemic septic shock