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Intravenous N-acetylcysteine and Oseltamivir Versus Oseltamivir in Adults Hospitalized With Influenza and Pneumonia

Phase 3
Recruiting
Conditions
Influenza
Interventions
Drug: 5% Dextrose
Registration Number
NCT03900988
Lead Sponsor
Chinese University of Hong Kong
Brief Summary

Seasonal influenza epidemics are important causes of morbidity and mortality. Cytokine dysregulation, with high levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, occurs in patients with severe influenza. Early therapy with a neuraminidase inhibitor (NAI) is associated with better outcome in patients hospitalized with influenza, but significant mortality occurs despite use of antivirals. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a modified form of the amino acid cysteine, with anti-oxidant properties. NAC was shown to inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory molecules in lung epithelial cells infected with influenza viruses. Previous case report showed that high dose NAC, administered as continuous intravenous infusion, was effective and safe in improving the clinical outcomes. We aim to perform a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the therapeutic role of adjunctive NAC in the clinical management of patients with influenza complicated by lower respiratory tract involvement and abnormal respiratory status. Such information when available may reveal the potential of NAC for optimization of management of severe influenza, and provide important insights into future adjunctive therapy research.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
160
Inclusion Criteria
  • influenza A and B virus infections confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and/or immunofluorescence assays,
  • hospitalized for the management of severe manifestations of influenza,
  • initiation of oseltamivir,
  • clinical evidence of lower respiratory tract infection (e.g. shortness of breath, tachypnea, oxygen desaturation <93% on room air, crepitations on auscultation, infiltrations or consolidations on chest radiograph)
  • written informed consent (by the subjects, or from their next of kin if the subjects are unable to provide written consent at the time of enrollment)
Exclusion Criteria
  • use of immunosuppressants (e.g. post-chemotherapy, post-transplant, autoimmune diseases) other than systemic corticosteroids
  • known immuno-compromised conditions (e.g. active haematological malignancies, HIV/AIDS patients who are on antiretroviral therapy and CD4 cell count < 200),
  • pregnancy
  • lactation,
  • end-stage renal failure
  • hepatic failure
  • cardiac failure
  • patients on anticoagulation (except prophylactic dose of low molecular weight heparin),
  • patients with scheduled major surgery within 2 weeks (NAC may affect blood clotting),
  • patients who have received macrolide antibiotics and NSAID for 1 week prior to enrolment due to their immuno-modulating effects.
  • Use of investigational anti-influenza antivirals and blood products

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
intravenous N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and oseltamivirN-acetyl cysteine-
intravenous 5% dextrose and oseltamivir5% Dextrose-
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Normalization of respiratory status in day28 days

oxygen saturation more than 93% or respiratory rate lower than 20/min on room air

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
CRP in mg/L10 days
interleukin 18 in pg/ml10 days
phospho-p38 and phospho-ERK (activated MAPKs) in mean fluorescence intensity(MFI)10 days
interleukin-8 in pg/ml10 days
Chemokine ligand 9 (CxCL9/MIG) in pg/ml10 days
phospho-inhibitor kB/IkB (NF-kB) in mean fluorescence intensity(MFI)10 days
mortality in days28 days
viral ribonucleic acid (RNA) in copies per milliliter28 days

All serially collected samples will be subjected to viral ribonucleic acid (RNA) quantification using quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRTPCR) targeting the matrix (M)-gene ('viral load')

Interleukin 6 in pg/ml10 days
interleukin 17 in pg/ml10 days
ICU admission in days28 days
a six step ordinal scale of clinical status7 days

death, in ICU, ongoing hospitalisation on oxygen, hospital stay not on oxygen, discharged but not returned to normal activities, or discharged and returned to normal activities

Soluble tumour necrosis factor receptor-1 (sTNFR-1) in pg/ml10 days
resolution of symptoms in days28 days

A standard questionnaire will be used to collect baseline and serial clinical data. These include clinical manifestations/complications, symptom severity score, vital signs (e.g. temperature, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation), fever duration, requirements for supplemental oxygen therapy and invasive/non-invasive ventilation, duration of hospitalization, death, and occurrence of adverse events.

Incidence of Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events in numbers28 days

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Prince of Wales Hospital

🇭🇰

Hong Kong, Hong Kong

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