Early Oseltamivir Carboxylate Low Plasma Concentration in Patients Admitted to Intensive Care for Severe Influenza

Overview

Introduction Pandemic and seasonal influenza epidemics can be associated with a high degree of morbidity and mortality, especially in patients developing severe influenza pneumonitis with the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or the less frequent fulminant myocarditis. Early administration (i.e. in the first 48 hours) of the neuraminidase inhibitor oseltamivir is associated with reduced mortality in patients hospitalized for severe influenza. Early oseltamivir administration, which can only be given orally (or through a nasogastric tube), is thus recommended by the World Health Organization in patients hospitalized for severe influenza, including those requiring intensive care (ICU) admission. However, enteric absorption may be compromised in critically ill patients due to impaired gut function. Hypothesis/Objective The hypothese is that, in patients admitted for severe influenza, early (i.e., measured at the 48th hour of treatment initiation) oseltamivir carboxylate (OC) low plasma concentration would be: 1) associated with a poor prognosis; and 2) detectable by carrying out a paracetamol absorption test (PAT). The main objective of the study is to determine the prognostic impact of early OC low plasma concentration in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) for severe influenza. Primary outcome measure: Number of live ventilator-free days at 28-day in patients with versus without OC low plasma concentration.

Methods Prospective cohort study conducted in 22 French intensive care units. Adult patients admitted to the ICU for severe influenza requiring invasive mechanical ventilation and treated with oseltamivir through a gastric tube for less than 24 hours will be included. After inclusion, oseltamivir treatment will be continued through a gastric tube (75mg x 2 /day). After the 4th administration, plasma peak concentration of oseltamivir phosphate (OP) will be dosed at 60 minutes (CmaxOP) and plasma residual concentration of OC will be dosed at 12 hours (just before the 5th dose) (CresOC). A paracetamol absorption test will also be performed at the same time (consisting in the measurement of plasma paracetamol concentration 60 minutes after enteral loading with 1000 mg of paracetamol). CmaxOP and CresOC will also be measured at day 3 and 5 in order to realize pharmacokinetic analysis. Nasal swabs will be performed at inclusion (day 1) and day 5 for viral load quantification and viral strain sequencing (detection of the H275Y mutation). Clinical and biological variables will be collected from day 1 to day 90.