Heparin Anticoagulation in Septic Shock

Phase 2TerminatedNCT03378466

University of Manitoba178 enrolled

Overview

This study is a pragmatic open-label international randomized trial comparing therapeutic dose intravenous unfractionated heparin (UFH) to standard care venous thromboprophylaxis in patients diagnosed with septic shock.

Background and significance: Sepsis and septic shock account for 10% of admissions to the intensive care unit and constitute the second most frequent cause of death among admitted patients. The mortality rate associated with septic shock ranges from 30% to 50% and death is often due to multiple organ dysfunction coupled with systemic inflammation. Given the pathobiological relationship between coagulation and inflammation in sepsis, treatment with anticoagulants has been investigated in this population. Multiple lines of evidence suggest that heparin, a widely available, inexpensive anticoagulant, may improve clinical outcomes in sepsis, but high quality evidence to guide practice is lacking. Hypothesis: Intravenous (IV) unfractionated heparin (UFH) reduces mortality and morbidity when administered to patients with suspected septic shock. Study Design: A pragmatic open-label international randomized trial comparing therapeutic dose intravenous unfractionated heparin (UFH) to standard care venous thromboprophylaxis in patients diagnosed with septic shock. Setting: To increase the external validity/generalizability of the trial results, 20 sites in 4 countries will participate. Study Population: Patients with systemic inflammation, vasopressor dependent shock, and signs of organ dysfunction. Interventions: IV infusion of UFH at 18 IU/kg/hr, dosed according to total body weight and pragmatically adjusted according to usual care to achieve an activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) of 1.5-2.5x that of the reference aPTT value (approximately 59-99 seconds). Alternately, therapeutic anti-Xa values (ie. values typically targeted for the treatment of venous thromboembolism) can be targeted based on local practice. Duration of heparin infusion is for a maximum of 5 days (120 hours) or until death, ICU discharge or discontinuation of vasopressors. The dose of UFH has been informed by our observational study and meta-analysis that showed a benefit of UFH in patients receiving therapeutic doses. Control group: Local standard care for venous thromboprophylaxis (i.e. not therapeutic) which may include SC LMWH, SC UFH, sequential compression devices or graduated compression stockings. Outcomes: At the end of the HALO international phase II trial, an international DSMB will be presented with by-group efficacy (vasopressor-free days) data in the context of 90-day mortality, and safety (bleeding and transfusion). With these data the DSMB will suggest: a) terminating enrollment for futility (lack of efficacy) or harm, or b) continuing to the phase III trial along with a recommended sample size to detect a clinically relevant difference in 90-day mortality. Patients will be analyzed according to the treatment group to which they are allocated. By-group data will remain blinded to study investigators so that these patients may be included in the HALO international phase III RCT. Our analytic approach provides a rationale to either stop, or to justify further investment in a large international phase III trial.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

178

Conditions

Septic Shock Vasodilatory Shock

Interventions

Unfractionated heparinDRUG

UFH initiated at 18 IU/kg/hr, dosed according to total body weight and pragmatically adjusted according to local institutional policy to achieve an activated partial thromboplastin (aPTT) of 1.5 to 2.5 times that of the reference aPTT value or anti-Xa values targeted to local practice levels. Duration of study intervention will be a maximum of 5 days (120 hours) or until vasopressors have been discontinued for 24 continuous hours. All participants will then receive venous thromboprophylaxis according to local practice.

Venous thromboprophylaxis (VTE)OTHER

May include subcutaneous heparin or dalteparin, sequential compression device or graduated compression stockings

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * ≥ 18 years of age * Refractory hypotension documented within 18 hours prior to enrolment that requires the institution and ongoing use of vasopressor agents, (phenylephrine, norepinephrine, vasopressin, epinephrine, midodrine or dopamine \>5 mcg/kg/min) at the time of enrolment. Refractory hypotension is defined as a systolic blood pressure (SBP) less than 90 mm Hg, or a systolic blood pressure more than 30 mm Hg below baseline, or a mean arterial pressure (MAP) less than 65 mm Hg and receipt of ≥ 2 litres of intravenous fluid for the treatment of hypotension (≥ 1 litre if dialysis dependent end-stage renal disease or if the patient is felt to be in congestive heart failure). * At least 1 other new organ dysfunction (in addition to refractory hypotension), defined by the following: 1. Creatinine ≥1.5x the known baseline creatinine, or ≥ 26.5 µmol/L increase or \<0.5 mL/kg of urine output for 6-12 hours according to the KDIGO \[Kidney Disease improving Global Outcomes (KDiGO)\] guideline definition of acute kidney injury. 2. Need for invasive mechanical ventilation or a P/F ratio \<250 3. Platelets \<100 x109/L, or a drop of 50 x109/L in the 3 days prior to enrolment 4. Arterial pH \< 7.30 or base deficit \> 5 mmol/L in association with a lactate \> 4.0 mmol/L Exclusion Criteria: * Other forms of shock including cardiogenic, hemorrhagic, hypovolemic, neurogenic, or obstructive shock. * Clinical suspicion or confirmation of a viral hemorrhagic shock syndrome including, but not limited to, dengue fever * Rapid clinical improvement; vasopressors likely to be discontinued in the next 6 hours * Received vasopressor therapy for greater than 18 hours prior to enrolment * Bleeding Risk: 1. Clinical: Active bleeding; head trauma; intracranial surgery or stroke within 3 months; history of intracerebral arteriovenous malformation, cerebral aneurysm or mass lesions of the central nervous system; history of a bleeding diatheses; gastrointestinal bleeding within 6 weeks; presence of an epidural or spinal catheter; selected cases of recent surgery where IV therapeutic UFH is considered contraindicated 2. Laboratory: Platelet count \<50 x109/L, INR \>2.0, or baseline aPTT \>50 seconds prior to enrolment * Known or suspected adverse reaction to UFH including heparin induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). * Use of any of the following treatments: UFH to treat a thrombotic event within 12 hours before enrolment; LMWH at a higher dose than recommended for prophylactic use within 12 hours before the infusion; warfarin (if used within 7 days before study entry AND if the INR exceeds 2.0 at enrolment); thrombolytic therapy within 3 previous days; use of IIb/IIIa inhibitors within the previous 7 days. * Need for therapeutic anticoagulation * Terminal illness with a life expectancy of less than 3 months, or no commitment to aggressive care. * Consent declined from patient or authorized 3rd party * Physician refusal

Locations (51)

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Vasopressor-free days.

The goal of phase II trial is to provide the international Data Safety Monitoring Committee (DSMC) with a sensible estimate to justify continued enrollment in an adaptive (sample size) trial. Vasopressor use, reflecting cardiovascular collapse due to overwhelming systematic inflammation, is a key inclusion criterion for the trial and durable discontinuation of such drugs and meaningful clinical improvement. Vasopressor-free days has been recommended as a preferred clinical outcome in phase II trials in critical illness.

Time frame: 30 days

Secondary Outcomes

Clinical Outcome #1 - ICU mortality

Survival

Time frame: From date of randomization until the first documentation of death from any cause or ICU discharge date or 90 days, whichever came first

Clinical Outcome #2 - Hospital mortality

Survival

Time frame: From date of randomization to the first documentation of death from any cause or hospital discharge date or 90 days, whichever came first.

Clinical Outcome #3 - 90-day mortality

Survival

Time frame: Up to day 90

Clinical Outcome # 4 - ∆SOFA score (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment)

Organ failure assessment using the SOFA scoring tool

Time frame: Daily from randomization to ICU discharge or hospital discharge or time of death or to study day 9 if still in ICU or hospital.

Clinical Outcome # 5 - Hospital-free days to day 90

Hospital admission duration in the context of survival

Time frame: from hospital admission to hospital discharge or time of death to day 90

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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