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Clinical Efficacy of Megadose Vitamin C in Sepsis

Clinical Efficacy of Megadose Vitamin C in Sepsis (CEMVIS): A Multicenter, Randomized, Single-blind, Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05194189
Acronym
CEMVIS
Enrollment
234
Registered
2022-01-18
Start date
2022-02-08
Completion date
2024-12-25
Last updated
2026-05-13

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

Conditions

Sepsis, Septic Shock

Keywords

megadose vitamin C

Brief summary

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.

Detailed description

Investigational drug: Vitamin C for injection Study title: Clinical efficacy of megadose vitamin C in sepsis (CEMVIS): A Multicenter, Randomized, Single-blind, Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial Principal Investigator: Zhanguo Liu, professor, Department of Critical Care Medicine, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University Study subjects: Adult septic/septic shock patients with procalcitonin(PCT)≥2ng/ml at recruitment. Study phase: Investigator Initiated Trial(IIT) Study objectives: The objective of the study is to determine whether megadose vitamin c, compared to placebo, improve the prognosis of sepsis, including the reduction in mortality, the protection of organ function and reduction of inflammatory response, and to determine the safety of megadose vitamin c in patients with sepsis. Study design: A Multicenter, Randomized, Single-blind, Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial Method: Megadose vitamin C group: routine treatment follow the recommendation of the guidelines for sepsis in 2021+ 12 g vitamin C (48 ml) injection every 12 h for 4 days or until ICU discharge (death or transfer from ICU to general ward or discharge), whatever come first. Placebo control group: routine treatment follow the recommendation of the guidelines for sepsis in 2021 + 48ml 5% glucose injection every 12 h for 4 days or until ICU discharge (death or transfer from ICU to general ward or discharge), whatever come first. Course: 4 days Sample size: 234 The number of study center: 4 Study center: 1. Department of Critical Care Medicine of Zhujiang Hospital,Guangzhou, Guangdong, China 2. Department of Critical Care Medicine of Yunfu People' s Hospital, Yunfu, Guangdong, China 3. Department of Critical Care Medicine of Zhongshan People's Hospital, Zhongshan, Guangdong, China 4. Department of Critical Care Medicine of Nanfang Hospital,Guangzhou, Guangdong, China Primary endpoint: 28-day all-cause mortality. Secondary endpoints: 1. The state of liver function: the serum level of transaminase(AST、ALT)、total bilirubin at 96 h after randomization 2. The state of lung function: oxygenation index(PaO2/FiO2) at 96h after randomization 3. The state of kidney function: serum level of Creatinine (Cr)、blood urea nitrogen(BUN)、Cystatin(Cys) at 96 h after randomization 4. The state of inflammatory response: the serum level of interleukin-6(IL-6) and C-reactive protein(CRP) at 96 h after randomization. 5. The state of infection: the serum level of procalcitonin(PCT) and white blood cell (WBC) at 96 h after randomization. 6. The state of circulation system: the serum level of lactate at 96 h after randomization 7. Organ dysfunction assessed by Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score at 96 h after randomization 8. The duration of successful cessation of supportive therapies for organ dysfunction including vasoactive agents, mechanical ventilation. 9. The duration of continuous renal replacement therapy(CRRT) 10. The length of stay in ICU Safety endpoints: 1. adverse events 2. Serious adverse events

Interventions

DRUGVitamin C

12 g vitamin C (48 ml) will be intravenously injected by a infusion pump every 12 h for 4 days or at ICU discharge

5% glucose solution 48 ml every 12 h for 4 days or at ICU discharge.

Sponsors

Zhujiang Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

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

Intervention model description

The participants in treatment group receive intravenous megadose vitamin C. The participants in control group receive 5% glucose injection with same volume.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 80 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Meets the diagnostic criteria for sepsis-3 developed by the American Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM)/European Critical Care Medicine Association (ESICM) * Age ≥18 years old and age ≤80 years old. * Procalcitonin ≥2 ng/ml

Exclusion criteria

* Age\<18 years, or age\>80 years. * Pregnancy or lactating * A solid-organ or bone marrow transplant patients. * Patients with myocardial infarction within the past 3 months. * Advanced pulmonary fibrosis . * Patients with cardiopulmonary resuscitation before enrollment. * HIV-positive patients. * granulocyte-deficient patients. * blood/lymphatic system tumors are not remission. * patients with limited care (lack of commitment to full aggressive life support). * patients with long-term use of immunosuppressive drugs or with immunodeficiency. * patients with advanced tumors. * patients combined with non-infectious factors leading to the death(uncontrollable major bleeding, brain hernia, etc.). * surgically unresolved infection sources(such as some intraperitoneal infection etc.) * patients allergic to vitamin c. * patients with G6PD deficiency.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
28-day all-cause mortalityThe outcome will be assessed at the 28 day after enrollmentAll-cause mortality from the enrollment to the 28th days

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
kidney function(1)The outcome will be assessed at the 0, 1 ,2 ,4 day after enrollmentserum level of Creatinine (Cr)
kidney function(2)The outcome will be assessed at the 0, 1 ,2 ,4 day after enrollmentserum level of blood urea nitrogen(BUN)
kidney function(3)The outcome will be assessed at the 0, 1 ,2 ,4 day after enrollmentserum level of Cystatin(Cys)
inflammatory response(1)The outcome will be assessed at the 0, 1 ,2 ,4 day after enrollmentthe serum level of interleukin-6(IL-6)
inflammatory response(2)The outcome will be assessed at the 0, 1 ,2 ,4 day after enrollmentthe serum level of C-reactive protein(CRP)
Indicators of infection(1)The outcome will be assessed at the 0, 1 ,2 ,4 day after enrollmentthe serum level of procalcitonin(PCT)
Indicators of infection(2)The outcome will be assessed at the 0, 1 ,2 ,4 day after enrollmentthe level of white blood cell count(WBC)
The level of lactateThe outcome will be assessed at the 0, 1 ,2 ,4 day after enrollmentthe serum level of lactic acid
Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scoreThe outcome will be assessed at the 0, 1 ,2 ,4 day after enrollmentOrgan dysfunction assessed by Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score. SOFA score is based on six different scores, one each for the respiratory, cardiovascular, hepatic, coagulation, renal and neurological systems. The highest score for each of the six items is 4 points, and the lowest score is 0 points. Finally, the scores of the six items are summed to get the value of the sofa score. The range of the sofa score is 0-24.Higher values represent a worse outcome.
The cessation of mechanical ventilation(MV) administrationThe outcome will be assessed at the 28 day after enrollmentThe duration from the MV administration to the successful cessation in hours( The successful cessation is defined as the termination of MV for more than 48-hours. This outcome measure is intended only for patients receiving MV)
The cessation of vasoactive drugs administrationThe outcome will be assessed at the 28 day after enrollmentThe duration from the vasoactive drugs administration to the successful cessation in hours( The successful cessation is defined as the attainment of a clinician-prescribed mean arterial pressure target for more than 24-hours without the use of vasoactive drugs.This outcome measure is intended only for patients receiving vasoactive drugs)
The duration of CRRTThe outcome will be assessed at the 28 day after enrollmentThe duration of CRRT therapy in hours( This outcome measure is intended only for patients receiving CRRT)
ICU length of stayThe outcome will be assessed at the 28 day after enrollmentICU length of stay
liver function(2)The outcome will be assessed at the 0, 1 ,2 ,4 day after enrollmentthe serum level of Aspartate transaminase (AST)
liver function(3)The outcome will be assessed at the 0, 1 ,2 ,4 day after enrollmentthe serum level of total bilirubin
lung functionThe outcome will be assessed at the 0, 1 ,2 ,4 day after enrollmentoxygenation index(PaO2/FiO2),the patients treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation will not collect this indicator.
liver function(1)The outcome will be assessed at the 0, 1 ,2 ,4 day after enrollmentthe serum level of Alanine transaminase(ALT)

Countries

China

Contacts

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORZhanguo Liu, M.D.PhD

Department of Critical Care Medicine of Zhujiang Hospital

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Aug 26, 2026