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Impact of Nebulized Dornase Alpha on Mechanically Ventilated Patients

Inhaled Dnase (Pulmozyme®) as a Non-Invasive Treatment of Atelectasis in Mechanically Ventilated Patients

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01095276
Enrollment
30
Registered
2010-03-30
Start date
2005-11-30
Completion date
2006-01-31
Last updated
2010-03-30

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Atelectasis, Ventilation, Mechanical

Keywords

Mechanical Ventilation, Extubation, dornase alpha, oxygenation, chest x ray

Brief summary

The investigators hypothesized that dornase alpha, administered twice a day (BID) by in-line nebulizer, would improve oxygenation, compliance, and time to extubation in adult patients receiving mechanical ventilation.

Detailed description

Background: Lobar or segmental collapse of the lung in mechanically ventilated patients is a relatively common occurrence in the Intensive Care Unit. Available treatments are either labor or time intensive and not highly effective. Methods: We conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind pilot study to determine whether nebulized recombinant human dornase alpha (Pulmozyme, Genentech) improves radiologic and clinical outcomes in ventilated patients with lobar atelectasis. Outcomes of interest were chest radiograph score, oxygenation, lung compliance, and rate of extubation over the first 5 days. The groups consisted of 14 intervention patients and 16 control patients. They were similar with respect to basic demographics, age, gender, and use of therapeutic modalities relating to lung function. Baseline average chest x-ray scores, Pa02/FI02 ratios, and static compliance were not significantly different. Analysis was limited to the first 5 days. Results: There was a significant improvement in oxygenation for the intervention group at day 5 (p=0.03). There were no significant differences in chest radiograph score, compliance, or rate of extubation. Two patients died in the intervention group, whereas none died in the control group (NS). Conclusions: These pilot data suggest that inhaled dornase alpha appears to be safe and is associated with improved oxygenation 5 days after initiation of therapy in mechanically ventilated patients compared to placebo. Larger studies are needed to confirm these findings and determine if this intervention decreases ICU morbidity and mortality.

Interventions

DRUGPulmozyme (nebulized dornase alpha)

nebulized dornase alpha: 2.5 mg by in-line nebulizer BID

DRUGSaline

Saline packaged identically to the dornase alpha intervention unit doses and coded for blinding by the company providing the intervention drug (dornase alpha).

Sponsors

University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* current ventilator use * onset of lobar or whole lung collapse over the previous 12 hours * age greater than 18

Exclusion criteria

* quadriplegia or debilitating neuromuscular condition * chronic ventilator dependence * pneumothorax * frank hemoptysis * elevated intracranial pressure * intracranial bleed * pregnancy or active nursing * concurrent use of other investigational drugs * history of allergy to Pulmozyme®, Chinese Hamster Ovary-derived biologics, or any of the components of the active or placebo formulations.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frame
Total Chest X Ray ScoreDays 0-30

Secondary

MeasureTime frame
Oxygenation (Pa02/FI02)Days 0-30
Static Lung ComplianceDays 0-30
Time to ExtubationDays 0-30

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026