This randomised trial aims to assess the role of sildenafil in improving oxygenation amongst hospitalised patients with COVID19.
Perfusion anomalies, namely hypoperfusion of healthy lung and vasoplegia with hyperperfusion of diseased lung areas, have been recently described amongst patients with COVID19. In this triple-blind pilot randomised trial, adult patients with high clinical suspicion of SARS-CoV2 infection and perfusion defects in a substraction computed tomography angiography will be randomised in a 1:1 ratio to receive sildenafil or placebo. Informed consent will be obtained from every included participant. Patients requiring mechanical ventilation at baseline will be excluded, as will those who present a contraindication to sildenafil, previous users of sildenafil, those requiring therapy with nitrates, patients in which an order to limit therapeutic efforts has been issued, pregnant or breastfeeding women and those who decline to participate in this study. The primary outcome for this trial wil be oxygenation changes in blood gas analyses. Secondary outcomes will include clinical deterioration requiring admission to an intensive care unit, requirement of high-flow nasal cannula or invasive mechanical ventilation and overall survival. Patients will be followed-up until hospital discharge or up to fifteen days after randomisation. Statistical analyses will be undertaken by a statistician unaware of treatment allocation under the intention-to-treat principle.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
40
Patients allocated to this arm will receive Sildenafil 25mg every 8 hours orally for up to seven consecutive days.
Patients allocated to this arm will receive a matching placebo similar to Sildenafil pills used in the intervention arm. Placebos will be delivered orally every 8 hours for up to seven consecutive days.
Hospital Naval Almirante Nef
Viña del Mar, Región de Valparaíso, Chile
Arterial Oxygenation
Mean difference in alveolar oxygen pressure to inspired oxygen fraction (Pa/Fi) ratios.
Time frame: One hour after sildenafil administration
Arterial Oxygenation
Mean difference in alveolar oxygen pressure to inspired oxygen fraction (Pa/Fi) ratios.
Time frame: Daily until the end of follow-up (up to 15 days after randomisation)
Alveolo-arterial gradient
Mean difference in the alveolo-arterial gradient between study groups.
Time frame: One hour after sildenafil administration
Alveolo-arterial gradient
Mean difference in the alveolo-arterial gradient between study groups.
Time frame: Daily until the end of follow-up (up to 15 days after randomisation)
Intensive care unit admission
Proportion of patients requiring admission to an intensive care unit in each study group
Time frame: Up to two weeks after randomisation
Noninvasive Mechanical Ventilation or Requirement of High-Flow Nasal Cannula
Proportion of patients requiring noninvasive mechanical ventilation o high-flow nasal cannula unit in each study group
Time frame: Up to two weeks after randomisation
Invasive mechanical ventilation
Proportion of patients requiring invasive mechanical ventilation in each study group
Time frame: Up to two weeks after randomisation
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Survival
Proportion of patients that survived COVID19 in each study group
Time frame: Up to two weeks after randomisation