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Early Administration of Norepinephrine in Sepsis

Early Administration of Norepinephrine in Sepsis (Tunisian Multicenter Randomized Trial)

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05836272
Acronym
EA-NE-TUN
Enrollment
200
Registered
2023-05-01
Start date
2023-08-01
Completion date
2025-08-31
Last updated
2024-12-04

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

Conditions

Sepsis, Severe

Keywords

sepsis, septic shock, Norepinephrine, volume expansion, mortality

Brief summary

The management of septic states includes, in addition to the specific treatment (antimicrobials and eradication of the source), a restoration of the hemodynamic disorders and assistance of the failing organs. In general, the restoration of hemodynamic disorders begins first with volume expansion, followed by the use of Noepinephrine (NE) when the target mean arterial pressure (MAP) is not reached after optimizing the intravascular volume. Recently, several studies have supported the interest of early NE on MAP, cardiac output and mortality. It is therefore tempting to restrict fluid administration even in the initial phase of hemodynamic management of severe sepsis by starting NE earlier.

Detailed description

Sepsis is characterized by systemic inflammation induced by a severe infection resulting in an inappropriate host response against that infection. On the microcirculatory scale, vasoplegia with capillary leakage is distinguished. Management of sepsis includes, in addition to specific treatment which includes antimicrobials and eradication of the source, restoration of hemodynamic disorders and assistance to failing organs. In general, the restoration of hemodynamic disorders begins first with volume expansion, followed by the use of vasopressors (mainly norepinephrine: NE as first-line therapy) when the mean arterial pressure target (MAP: reflecting the perfusion pressure organs) is not reached after optimizing the intravascular volume. Recently, several studies have supported the benefit of administering NE at the start of resuscitation of sepsis. Indeed, its administration at an earlier phase than usually recommended improved MAP and cardiac output with a favorable effect on mortality. At a median interval of 1.3 hours from ICU admission and exclusive administration of NE, MAP was adequately restored within a relatively short time (30 min) and was associated with a better survival rate than that predicted by the severity scores of similar patients from other series reported in the literature. In the recent Thai CENSER trial, shock was controlled in 76% of patients in the early NE group versus 48% (p\<0.001). On the other hand, the administration of a large quantity of fluids inevitably increases the risk of fluid overload, which is a frequent complication in septic patients. In front of all these arguments, it is therefore tempting to restrict fluid administration even to the initial phase of the hemodynamic management of sepsis by starting NE earlier.

Interventions

The NE will be prepared as follows: 4 mg mixed with 250 ml of 5% glucose resulting in a final norepinephrine concentration of 0.016 mg/ml. For the control group placebo: 250 ml of 5% glucose will be prepared. Both drugs will be infused via a peripheral line or a venous catheter. The intravenous infusion rate varies from 8 to 15 ml/hour, adjusted according to body weight to obtain norepinephrine at 0.05 microgram/kg/min (ie 0.128 to 0.24 mg per hour) in continuous infusion.

OTHERPlacebo

For the control group placebo: 250 ml of 5% glucose will be prepared and will be infused via a peripheral line or a venous catheter. The intravenous infusion rate varies from 8 to 15 ml/hour.

Sponsors

Tunis University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

This involves randomizing 2 independent groups according to a succession of six blocks of random permutations and this will be carried out using a computer-generated tool: the NE group (early noradrenaline group) which will receive NA at start for correction of hypotension and Placebo group (standard treatment group).

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

* Age 18 or older. * The patient or his/her legal representative has given informed consent in writing. * Diagnosis of sepsis according to the definitions updated by the consensus of sepsis 3. * Mean arterial pressure \< 65 mmHg

Exclusion criteria

* Diagnosis of septic shock prior to randomization (where NA requirements exceed those of the trial protocol) * Pregnancy, * Need for immediate surgery, * Neoplasia at an advanced stage * Circumstances where water restriction is the rule: * Acute pulmonary edema * Acute coronary syndrome,

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
shock controlwithin 6 hoursshock control is defined by a composite criterion (MAP \> 65 mm Hg for 2 consecutive measurements and urinary output \> 0.5 ml/kg/h for 2 consecutive hours)

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Decrease in serum lactatewithin 6 hoursDecrease in serum lactate \> 10% from baseline
Volume of fluidwithin 48 hoursQuantity of intravenous fluid received
Mortality28 daysMortality

Other

MeasureTime frameDescription
Use of invasive ventilation48 hoursUse of invasive ventilation
Variation of cardiac outputWithin 6 hoursVariation of Cardiac output assessed xith transthoracic cardiac ultrasound (the 15% threshold is considered to define an increase in CO).

Countries

Tunisia

Contacts

Primary ContactAhlem Trifi
trifiahlem2@gmail.com98692699

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 5, 2026