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Nitric oxide (NO) plays a pivotal role in maintenance of normal vascular tone. However, in sepsis the excessive production of NO results in myocardial depression, vasoplegia, and cytotoxic effects, thus promoting shock and multiple organ dysfunction. A recently completed study from our group showed advantageous cardiovascular effects of continuously infused methylene blue (MB), an inhibitor of NO pathway, in human septic shock. In another investigation, we have found that the combination of inhaled NO and continuously infused MB attenuates endotoxin-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in sheep. Our intention is, in a new study, to test the hypothesis that the combination of MB and NO (MB+NO) improves both cardiovascular and pulmonary functions as well as clinical outcome in patients with septic shock and ALI. Forty mechanically ventilated patients diagnosed with hyperdynamic septic shock and ALI, will be randomized to groups receiving
Full description
The therapy with either MB+NO or NO or MB alone will be prolonged for up to 24 h or until resolution of septic shock, whichever occurs first. MB will be injected as a bolus of 2 mg/kg subsequently followed by dose-titrated infusion. The latter beginning with 0.25 mg/kg/h continuing within the range of from 0.05 to 0.5 mg/kg/h. The goal is to maintain mean arterial pressure within the range of 70-90 mm Hg, with the purpose of reducing any concurrent vasopressor therapy. The NO therapy will be started from 10 ppm and aimed at maintaining the mean pulmonary artery pressure at the lowest possible levels by inhaling NO in concentrations from 1 to 20 ppm.
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Inclusion criteria
Informed written consent from the patient, or a written consent from a relative together with a the doctor responsible for the treatment of the patient
Aged 18 years or above.
Severe sepsis diagnosed less than 72 h prior to randomization.
Septic shock defined as a syndrome characterized by severe sepsis in association with either:
Cardiac index (CI) must be >3.5 l/min/m2, pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (PAOP) must be between 8 and 18 mm Hg, and in the opinion of the investigator the patient must be adequately fluid resuscitated
A 4 French Pulsiocath thermodilution catheter (Pulsion Medical Systems, München, Germany) in place in one of the femoral arteries and a 7 French thermistor-tipped balloon floatation catheter (Swan Ganz) in the pulmonary artery for determination of hemodynamics, including extravascular lung water index (EVLWI).
A dedicated intravenous line for infusion of MB
A respirator with a device for delivery of gaseous NO to the inspiration gas and equipped with analysis tools for lung mechanics
The patients will be treated in intensive care units with the possibility to provide full life support for the whole duration of the study
In female patients a negative pregnancy test will be requires before inclusion unless the patient is either in the post-partum period or known to have undergone prior tubal ligation or hysterectomy, or be postmenopausal
Exclusion criteria
known corticosteroid therapy either greater than or equal to a total daily dose equivalent to 1 mg/kg or greater than 70 mg/day of oral prednisolone for at least 7 consecutive days within one month prior to study entry,
clinically suspected or known to have Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS),
granulocyte count less than 1000/mm3 due to a cause other than severe sepsis (e.g. metastatic or hematological malignancies or chemotherapy),
immunosuppressant therapy (e.g. due to an organ or bone marrow transplant), 7) Underlying disease, exclusive of septic shock, which is expected to cause death within 1 month from study entry 8) Within 30 days prior to this study, the patient should not have been included in any other randomized therapeutic study of an agent not licensed, or administration of any other investigational agent for the treatment of sepsis and/or septic shock. Patients must not participate in such studies for at least 30 days after enrolment into this study.
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28 participants in 4 patient groups
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Data sourced from clinicaltrials.gov
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