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Effects of Vasopressors on Immune Response

Phase 4
Completed
Conditions
Endotoxemia
Interventions
Drug: Vasopressins
Drug: Placebo
Registration Number
NCT02675868
Lead Sponsor
Radboud University Medical Center
Brief Summary

Noradrenaline is a catecholamine and the cornerstone treatment for the improvement of hemodynamic parameters in septic shock. Catecholamines exert profound immunomodulatory effects. Noradrenaline in vitro inhibits LPS-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine production, however, the actions on immune function in vivo have not been assessed. Furthermore, effects on the immune system of viable vasopressor alternatives for the treatment of septic patients, namely phenylephrine and vasopressin, need to be established in humans in vivo.

Detailed Description

Rationale:

Septic shock is a major medical challenge associated with a high mortality rate and increasing incidence. It has become clear that the majority of septic patients do not succumb to an initial pro-inflammatory "hit", but at a later time-point in a pronounced immunosuppressive state, so called 'immunoparalysis'. Noradrenaline is a catecholamine and the cornerstone treatment for the improvement of hemodynamic parameters in septic shock. However, catecholamines exert profound immunomodulatory effects which have mainly been studied for adrenaline. It profoundly inhibits LPS-induced production of TNF-α, and enhances production of anti-inflammatory IL-10 in vitro, as well as in animal and human models of inflammation. Although in vitro studies have shown that noradrenaline inhibits LPS-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine production as potently as adrenaline, the effects of noradrenaline on the immune system in vivo have not yet been studied. Furthermore, effects on the immune system of viable vasopressor alternatives for the treatment of septic patients, namely phenylephrine and vasopressin, need to be established in humans in vivo.

Objective: To investigate whether noradrenaline exerts immunomodulatory effects in humans in vivo and to compare noradrenaline to other vasopressors (phenylephrine and vasopressin).

Study design: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study in healthy human volunteers during experimental endotoxemia.

Study population: 40 healthy male volunteers, aged 18-35 yrs.

Intervention:

1. The noradrenaline group (n= 10): subjects that will receive intravenous infusion of noradrenaline 0.05 μg/kg/min for 5 hours, starting 60 minutes before intravenous administration of 2 ng/kg LPS.

2. The phenylephrine group (n=10): subjects that will receive intravenous infusion of phenylephrine 0.5 μg/kg/min for 5 hours, starting 60 minutes before intravenous administration of 2 ng/kg LPS. .

3. The vasopressin group (n = 10): subjects that will receive intravenous infusion of vasopressin 0.04 IU/min for 5 hours, starting 60 minutes before intravenous administration of 2 ng/kg LPS.

4. The placebo group (n = 10): subjects that will receive intravenous infusion of NaCl 0.9% for 5 hours, starting 60 minutes before intravenous administration of 2 ng/kg LPS.

Main parameters/endpoints:

The difference of LPS-induced TNF-α plasma concentrations following endotoxemia between the noradrenaline and the placebo groups

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
Male
Target Recruitment
40
Inclusion Criteria
  • Written informed consent
  • Age ≥18 and ≤35 yrs
  • Male
  • Healthy
Exclusion Criteria
  • Use of any medication
  • Smoking
  • Previous spontaneous vagal collapse
  • History of atrial or ventricular arrhythmia
  • (Family) history of myocardial infarction or stroke under the age of 65 years
  • Cardiac conduction abnormalities on the ECG consisting of a 2nd degree atrioventricular block or a complex bundle branch block
  • Hypertension (defined as RR systolic > 160 or RR diastolic > 90)
  • Hypotension (defined as RR systolic < 100 or RR diastolic < 50)
  • Renal impairment (defined as plasma creatinin >120 μmol/l)
  • Liver enzyme abnormalities
  • Medical history of any disease associated with immune deficiency
  • CRP > 20 mg/L, WBC > 12x109/L, or clinically significant acute illness, including infections, within 4 weeks before endotoxin administration
  • Participation in a drug trial or donation of blood 3 months prior to the LPS challenge
  • Use of recreational drugs within 7 days prior to experiment day
  • Recent hospital admission or surgery with general anaesthesia (<3 months)
  • Known anaphylaxis or hypersensitivity to the study drugs or their excipients
  • Recent anaesthesia with halogenated agents
  • Known cardiovascular disease (coronary artery disease)
  • Known chronic nephritis

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
VasopressinsVasopressinsThe vasopressin group: a group of 10 subjects that will receive vasopressin 0.04 IU/min infusion for 5 hours, starting 60 minutes before endotoxin administration.
PlaceboPlaceboThe placebo group: a group of 10 subjects that will receive NaCl 0.9% infusion for 5 hours, starting 60 minutes before endotoxin administration.
NorepinephrineNorepinephrineThe noradrenaline group: a group of 10 subjects that will receive noradrenaline 0.05 μg/kg/min infusion for 5 hours, starting 60 minutes before endotoxin administration.
PhenylephrinePhenylephrineThe phenylephrine group: a group of 10 subjects that will receive phenylephrine 0.5 μg/kg/min infusion for 5 hours, starting 60 minutes before endotoxin administration.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
concentration plasma TNFalpha (pg/ml) following endotoxemia between the noradrenaline and the placebo groups1 day

comparison of subjects treated with noradrenaline compared to subjects treated with placebo

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
concentration plasma IL-1beta (pg/ml)1 day

Measured with Luminex assay

symptoms during endotoxin day1 day

6 point likert scale

blood pressure1 day

mmHg

temperature1 day

tympanic temperature

cytokine production after ex vivo stimulation of leukocytes1 day
phenotype of circulating leucocytes1 day
Heart rate variability1 day

Comparison between Holter and 2 phone applications

Mean flow velocity of the median cerebral artery1 day

As measured via Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound

-The phenotype of circulating leukocytes1 day

Measured with Luminex assay

concentration plasma IL-10 (pg/ml)1 day

Measured with Luminex assay

concentration plasma IL-1RA (pg/ml)1 day

Measured with Luminex assay

concentration plasma IL-6 (pg/ml)1 day

Measured with Luminex assay

concentration plasma IL-8 (pg/ml)1 day

Measured with Luminex assay

Leucocyte counts and differentiation1 day

Measured with Luminex assay

cerebral microcirculatory flow1 day

As measured via Near Infrared Spectroscopy

Breathing frequency (breaths/ min)1 day

comparison between pulseoximeter and a health Patch device and VISI mobile device

Tranfer function analysis1 day

As derived from transcranial Doppler Ultrasound

Stress Levels (in percentage based on heart rate and heart rate variability)1 day

Comparison between health patch device, and 2 phone applications and a subjective stress questionaire

Cerebral vascular resistance1 day

As derived from transcranial Doppler Ultrasound

Cerebral Critical closing pressure1 day

As derived from transcranial Doppler Ultrasound

Microvascular flow (microvascular flow index)1 day

Measured via Sidestream Darkfield Imaging

Pulsatility index of the median cerebral artery1 day

As measured via Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound

Mean flow indexvia 1 day

As measured via Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound

cerebral oxygenation1 day

As measured via Near infrared spectroscopy

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Radboudumc

🇳🇱

Nijmegen, Gelderland, Netherlands

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