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Methylene Blue and Microcirculation in Septic Shock

The Effect of Methylene Blue on Microcirculation in Patients With Septic Shock: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Status
UNKNOWN
Phases
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04295993
Enrollment
32
Registered
2020-03-05
Start date
2020-03-10
Completion date
2020-09-20
Last updated
2020-03-05

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

Conditions

Septic Shock

Brief summary

This trial aims to identify the effects of methylene blue infusion on the the micro-circulation in patients with septic shock. The investigators will evaluate various indices of micro-circulation such as: microvascular flow index, the flow heterogeneity index, the total vessel density, the perfused vessel density, and the proportion of perfused vessels.

Detailed description

The mortality rate of patients with septic shock remains very high. Arterial hypotension, related to arteriolar vasodilation and myocardial depression are the mainstays of septic shock pathology. At the level of the micro-circulation, there is insufficient delivery of oxygen to organs and tissues which results in organ dysfunction and potential organ necrosis.One key factor leading to vascular dysfunction is the inappropriately increased production of nitric oxide within the blood vessel endothelium. Elevated levels of nitric oxide results in the blood vessel endothelium receiving direct vasodilator input, as well as the inability to respond to norepinephrine-mediated vasoconstriction. Nitric oxide activates the soluble isoform of the enzyme guanylatecyclase, which in turn increases production of cyclic guanosine monophosphate. Nitric oxide has other beneficial effects which are mediated via other pathways than guanylatecyclase; therefore, administration of a guanylate cyclase inhibitor such as methylene blue could be a safer therapeutic option than the inhibition of nitric oxide production. These effects of methylene blue could be related to vasoconstriction and positive inotropic effects as well to an increase in blood volume, itself related to a decrease in vascular permeability. The use of methylene blue has been recently advocated as a potential adjunct in the treatment of shock states. However, the effect of MB at the level of the capillary bed, where vital exchange of oxygen and nutrients occurs, is unknown. Thus in this study, the investigators will investigate the effect of methylene blue in combination with NE at the microvascular level in septic shock.

Interventions

DRUGMethylene Blue

The patient will receive Methylene Blue bolus with a dose of 2 mg/kg over 10 minutes.

The patient will receive norepinephrine infusion to maintain mean arterial pressure above 65 mmHg

Sponsors

Cairo University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 70 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Septic shock * The patient is on norepinephrine infusion

Exclusion criteria

* Elevated serum creatinine (above 1.4 mg/dL) * Pregnancy

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Microvascular flow index6 hoursThe image will be divided into four quadrants and the vessels \<20 μ m diameter will be assigned a score based on the predominant flow characteristics of the vessels in that quadrant (0 = absent flow; 1 = intermittent; 2 = sluggish; 3 = normal). The values in each quadrant will be averaged to give an microvascular flow index for each sublingual site at each time point. To determine heterogeneity of perfusion, the flow heterogeneity index will be calculated as the highest microvascular flow index minus the lowest microvascular flow index divided by the mean microvascular flow index.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
total consumption of norepinephrine6 hoursthe total consumption of norepinephrine in 6 hours measured in micrograms.
Total vessel density6 hoursThe number of vessels per millimeters squared.
Perfused vessel density6 hoursThe number of vessels multiplied by the fraction of perfused vessels
Proportion of perfused vessel6 hoursThe number of vessels with flows 2 and 3 divided by the total number of vessels and multiplied by 100.
cardiac output24 hoursThe amount of blood ejected by the heart in one minute measured in liters
serum lactate6 hoursthe value of lactate in the serum measured in milligrams per liter
length of stay in the intensive care unit28 daysthe duration of stay in the intensive care unit measured in days
incidence of mortality28 daysThe number of dead patients divided by the total number of patients
mean arterial pressure24 hoursthe mean arterial blood pressure measured in mmHg

Countries

Egypt

Contacts

Primary Contactkareman abdelghaffar, Demonstrator
kareman_86@hotmail.com+201223931469
Backup ContactAhmed Hasanin, Professor
ahmedmohamedhasanin@gmail.com+201095076954

Outcome results

None listed

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