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Unfractioned Heparin for Treatment of Sepsis Caused by Abdominal Infection

Phase 3
Recruiting
Conditions
Sepsis
Heparin
Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT04861922
Lead Sponsor
The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University
Brief Summary

Sepsis is the leading cause of death in intensive care units and a major public health concern in the world. Heparin, a widely used anticoagulant medicine to prevent or treat thrombotic disorders, has been demonstrated to prevent organ damage and lethality in experimental sepsis models. However, the efficacy of heparin in the treatment of clinical sepsis is not consistent. Caspase-11, a cytosolic receptor of LPS, triggers lethal immune responses in sepsis. Recently, we have revealed that heparin prevents cytosolic delivery of LPS and caspase-11 activation in sepsis through inhibiting the heparanase-mediated glycocalyx degradation and the HMGB1- LPS interaction, which is independent of its anticoagulant properties. In our study, it is found that heparin treatment could prevent lethal responses in endotoxemia or Gram-negative sepsis, while caspase-11 deficiency or heparin treatment failed to confer protection against sepsis caused by Staphylococcus aureus, a type of Gram-positive bacterium. It is probably that other pathogens such as Gram-positive bacteria might cause death through mechanisms distinct from that of Gram-negative bacteria. Peptidoglycan, a cell-wall component of Gram-positive bacteria, can cause DIC and impair survival in primates by activating both extrinsic and intrinsic coagulation pathways, which might not be targeted by heparin. We speculate that the discrepancy between the previous clinical trials of heparin might be due to the difference in infected pathogens. Thus, stratification of patients based on the type of invading pathogens might improve the therapeutic efficiency of heparin in sepsis, and this merits future investigations.

Detailed Description

In clinical patients, the major pathogens of sepsis caused by abdominal infection are mostly Gram-negative bacterium. Therefore, aim of this study is to determine effects of low dose unfractionated heparin for treatment of sepsis caused by abdominal infection.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
100
Inclusion Criteria

Patients will be eligible for inclusion if all of the inclusion criteria are met:

1.Sepsis-3 criteria from Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) /European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM), and the infection site is from abdomen 2.18≤ age ≤75years 3.obtain informed consent

Exclusion Criteria
  1. The primary site of infection is from other parts (such as lungs, intracranial, etc.) except abdomen
  2. Diagnosis of sepsis for more than 48 hour
  3. Pregnant and lactating women
  4. Severe primary disease including unrespectable tumours, blood diseases and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV);
  5. Have a known or suspected adverse reaction to UFH including HIT
  6. Have bleeding or high risk for bleeding
  7. Have an indication for therapeutic anticoagulation or have taken anticoagulants within 7 days
  8. Use of an immunosuppressant or having an organ transplant within the previous 6 months
  9. Participating in other clinical trials in the previous 30 days
  10. Have received cardiopulmonary resuscitation within 7 days
  11. Have terminal illness with a life expectancy of less than 28 days

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Unfractionated HeparinUnfractionated HeparinA bottle solution of Heparin Sodium (2ml:12500IU) is added to 48 ml saline and administered intravenously continuously for 24 hours (10 unit/kgBW/hour), which last 5 days or until the death or discharge.
Normal salineUnfractionated HeparinThe same amount of 0.9% saline as the heparin group (50ml) will be administered in the placebo group.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
All-Cause Mortality28 Days after randomization

Death from all causes at 28-days

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Death in ICU28 Days after randomization

Death from all causes at ICU discharge

SOFA scoreDay 0,3,6 after randomization

Total Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score(0-24) , higher values represent a worse outcome

APACHEⅡDay 0,3,6 after randomization

Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (include Acute physiology score, APS and age and Chronic physiology score, totally 0-71 Points)

SIC scoreDay 0,3,6 after randomization

Sepsis-induced coagulopathy score (totally 0-6 Points)

DIC scoreDay 0,3,6 after randomization

Disseminated intravascular coagulation score (totally 0-8 Points)

Duration of mechanical ventilation and continuous renal replacement therapy28 days after randomization

Duration of mechanical ventilation and continuous renal replacement therapy in ICU

ICU stay28 days after randomization

Duration of stay in ICU

Inflammation0,3,6 days after randomization

Concentration of inflammation markers such as c-reactive protein, procalcitonin, IL-1β and IL-1α at 0, 3,6 days after randomization

Coagulation0,3,6 days after randomization

Concentration of coagulation related indexes such as fibrinogen degradation products, d-dimer, thrombin-antithrombin complex, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, plasmin antiplasmin complex, and thrombomodulin at 0,3,6 days after randomization

The incidence of major bleeding28 days after randomization

"Major bleeding" is defined as intracranial bleeding, life-threatening bleeding, or need red blood cell suspension more than 3 units every 24 hours, and last for 2 days

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

The third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University

🇨🇳

Changsha, Hunan, China

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