Skip to content

Angiotensin II for Distributive Shock

Angiotensin II as a First-line Vasopressor for Distributive Shock During or After Heart Transplantation or Durable Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation: A Pilot Study

Status
Terminated
Phases
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04904562
Enrollment
2
Registered
2021-05-27
Start date
2022-06-01
Completion date
2024-07-01
Last updated
2026-04-13

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

Conditions

Distributive Shock

Keywords

Vasoplegia

Brief summary

This is a single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study. A total of 40 patients who develop distributive shock, intra-operatively or post-operatively within 48 hours of heart transplant or left ventricular assist device placement will be enrolled. Participants will be randomized to Angiotensin II (Giapreza) vs. placebo plus standard of care, as a first line agent for vasoplegia. Two groups of patients will be enrolled: * Group A: Heart Transplant (10 control, 10 treatment) * Group B: LVAD implant (10 control, 10 treatment)

Detailed description

Patients undergoing implantation of a durable left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) or a heart transplantation are at increased risk for cardiac vasoplegia. Vasoplegia, during or following cardiac surgery, is a life-threatening condition that is characterized by poor organ perfusion and may progress to multi-organ failure. The prognosis is especially poor for patients with refractory hypotension, despite high doses of vasopressors. Existing data point to total catecholamine dose, cumulative time spent with hypotension, volume overload, need for blood transfusion as contributing factors. Catecholamine vasopressors and vasopressin, which are often used as first line vasopressor therapy, are also independent risk factors for end organ dysfunction. Data comparing mortality with the use of different classes of vasopressors, in various types of shock, have been equivocal to date. In addition, data comparing the use of different classes of vasopressors for vasoplegia during or after heart transplantation and LVAD implantation are lacking. In patients with distributive shock in the intensive care unit, angiotensin II has been shown to reduce total catecholamine dose over 24 hours and the cumulative time spent with hypotension. This study will evaluate, as the primary endpoint, whether first line use of angiotensin II affects total catecholamine vasopressor dose in the first 24 hours after vasoplegia is first. Secondary endpoints include cumulative time spent with mean arterial pressure \< 70 mmHg within the first 24 hours after distributive shock is first diagnosed, need for vasoplegia rescue therapies (methylene blue, vitamin B12, Vitamin C, steroids), incidence of acute kidney injury and stroke, time to extubation, incidence of new tachyarrhythmias, need for blood transfusion and fluid overload within the first 24 hours, ICU and hospital length of stay, 30-day mortality and allograft rejection (for heart transplant recipients).

Interventions

DRUGAngiotensin II

Angiotensin II started at 5 ng/kg/min and titrated in 5-10 ng/kg/min increments every 5 minutes up to 80ng/kg/min to achieve target arterial pressure (MAP)

DRUGPlacebo

Placebo

Sponsors

Northwestern University
Lead SponsorOTHER
La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company
CollaboratorINDUSTRY

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator)

Masking description

Study medication and matching placebo (saline) administered by IV infusion

Intervention model description

1:1 randomization to receive either study drug or placebo

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

1. Patients (18 years of age or older) 2. Onset of distributive shock within 48 hours after heart transplantation or VAD placement. Distributive shock defined as MAP less than 55mmHg on CPB, MAP less than 70mmHg before or after CPB, or systemic vascular resistance (SVR) less than 800 dynes/cm/sec5 with cardiac index (CI) greater than 2.0L/min/m2 and clinically determined euvolemia.

Exclusion criteria

1. Patients without distributive shock, 2. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. 3. Patients who do not receive the study drug as a first line agent for distributive shock 4. Allergy to angiotensin II, angiotensin II or another vasopressor being used at the time of presentation to the operating room 5. Preexisting distributive shock 6. Preexisting thromboembolic disease 7. Patients who are unwilling to provide consent

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Total Catecholamine Dose24 hoursTotal catecholamine dose for first 24 hours after distributive shock is first diagnosed

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Cumulative Time Spent With MAP < 70 mmHg24 hoursCumulative time spent with MAP \< 70 mmHg within the first 24 hours after distributive shock is first diagnosed
Time to Extubation24 hoursTime to extubation after arrival in the ICU if distributive shock is diagnosed intraoperatively or time to extubation after distributive shock is diagnosed postoperatively
Incidence of Stroke48 hoursIncidence of stroke confirmed by neurologist within 48 hours after distributive shock is first diagnosed
Incidence of Acute Kidney Injury48 hoursIncidence of acute kidney injury, staged by KDIGO Creatinine criteria, within 48 hours after distributive shock is first diagnosed
Incidence of New Tachyarrhythmia24 hoursIncidence of new tachyarrhythmia within the first 24 hours after distributive shock is first diagnosed
Units of Blood Transfused24 hoursUnits of blood transfused within first 24 hours after distributive shock is first diagnosed
Fluid Overload24 hoursFluid overload within the first 24 hours after distributive shock is first diagnosed
Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Length of Stay1 yearTotal time spent in the ICU after initial diagnosis of distributive shock
Hospital Length of Stay1 yearTotal time spent in the hospital after diagnosis of distributive shock
30-day Mortality30 daysSubject death within 30 days of diagnosis of distributive shock

Countries

United States

Contacts

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORChoy Lewis, MD

Northwestern University

Participant flow

Pre-assignment details

Only 2 participants were enrolled in this study. Based on the low enrollment number, no data is reported here in order to protect and maintain participant privacy/confidentiality.

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 10 / 1
other
Total, other adverse events
0 / 10 / 1
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 10 / 1

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Apr 14, 2026