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Vitamin C, Vitamin B1 and Steroid in Sepsis

Phase 4
Conditions
Sepsis, Severe
Interventions
Drug: Ascorbic acid-Vitamin B1-Hydrocortisone
Drug: Placebo
Registration Number
NCT04039815
Lead Sponsor
Far Eastern Memorial Hospital
Brief Summary

A randomized controlled trial to test the synergic modulation effect of vitamin C, thiamine and hydrocortisone in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock.

Detailed Description

Management of sepsis bases on three components: infection control, haemodynamic stabilization and modulation of the septic response. Many clinical trials conducted agents to block the inflammatory cascade, such as corticosteroids, anti-endotoxins antibodies, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists, interleukin-1-receptor antagonists, and so on, but none has proven effective to date. A safe, effective, ready available therapy is desperately required. Thiamine is a key co-factor for pyruvate dehydrogenase, alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase, and transketolase. All the three enzymes are required to complete Krebs Cycle to prevent from lactate production. Previous studies have found thiamine deficiency to be prevalent in septic shock and other critically ill conditions. One pilot study also proved patients with septic shock and baseline thiamine deficiency would have significant lower lactate level at 24 hours after administration of thiamine. HYPRESS (hydrocortisone for Prevention of Septic Shock) study failed to demonstrate an outcome benefit from a hydrocortisone infusion in patients with sepsis. Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that directly scavenges oxygen free radicals, can restores other cellular antioxidants and plays a role in preserving endothelial function and microcirculatory flow as well. Though previous studies suggested that hydrocortisone and vitamin C alone have little impact on the clinical outcome of patients with sepsis. Vitamin C and hydrocortisone have many overlapping and synergic pathophysiologic effects in sepsis. Both drugs are required for the synthesis of catechlamines and increase vasopressor sensitivity. Both drugs can down-regulating the production of proinflammatory mediators, increase tight junctions between endothelial and epithelial cells, preserve endothelial function and microcirculatory flow. Marik et al published their study in CHEST (June 2017) resulting the benefits of combination of Vitamin B1, Vitamin C and hydrocortisone to severe sepsis and septic shock. However, small sample size and some bias due to imbalanced baseline and study method could confound the results. Herein, we would like to lead a randomized controlled trial to test the synergic modulation effect of vitamin C, thiamine and hydrocortisone in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
80
Inclusion Criteria
  • aged equal or over 20
  • admitted to MICU due to severe sepsis or septic shock
Exclusion Criteria
  • Patients who are pregnant
  • known history of Vitamin C , Vitamin B or hydrocortisone (or other equivalent products) allergy

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
ABC group (Ascorbic acid-Vitamin B1-Hydrocortisone) groupAscorbic acid-Vitamin B1-Hydrocortisonepatients in study group, so called" ABC" (Ascorbic acid-Vitamin B1-Hydrocortisone) group, would receive intravenous Thiamine (200mg in 50 mL of 0.9% normal saline and was administered as a 30-min infusion every 12 hours for 4 days or until ICU discharge), Vitamin C (1.5g mixed in a 100-mL solution of normal saline and was administered as an infusion over 30 to 60 min every 6 hours for four days or until ICU discharge) as well as hydrocortisone 50mg every 6 hours (or other equivalent products) for 7 days
normal saline groupPlacebopatients would receive 50mL 0.9% normal saline, 100 mL 0.9% normal saline with the same infusion rate and hydrocortisone dependent on the discretion of the attending physician
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
The primary endpoint was the hospital survival.30 days

hospital survival

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
duration of vasopressor therapy72 hours

duration of vasopressor therapy

requirement for renal replacement therapy in patients with acute kidney injury (AKI)72 hours

requirement for renal replacement therapy in patients with acute kidney injury (AKI)

change of Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACH II) score over the first 72 hours72 hours

chronic health problems (liver cirrhosis, dialysis, COPD, congestive heart failure, immunocompromised): None: 0 point Non-surgical: 5 points Emergent operation: 5 points

Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score (SOFA score) over the first 72 hours72 hours

Creatinine: mg/dL

ICU length of stay (LOS)4 days

ICU length of stay (days)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Far Eastern Memorial Hospital

🇨🇳

Taipei County, Taiwan

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