Losartan and Spironolactone Treatment for ICU Patients With COVID-19 Suffering From ARDS

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a current pandemic infection caused by an RNA virus called Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Severe forms of COVID-19 are most often responsible for isolated respiratory failure in the form of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which accounts for most of the mortality. Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) has been shown to be a co-receptor for the entry of SARS-CoV-2 into cells and is likely to play a prolonged role in the pathogenesis of COVID-19. ACE2 and angiotensin (1-7) have been shown to be protective in a number of different lung lesion models. In a mouse model of acidic lung injury, negative regulation of ACE2 by COVID, the SARS virus responsible for the 2003 SARS outbreak, worsened the lung injury which was improved by treatment with ARBs.

We believe that blocking the first RAS pathway at the end of the chain on the AT1r angiotensin 2 receptor may prevent the initiation of this chain reaction and limit decompensation secondary to the disruption of the equilibrium of the renin-angiotensin system. We have several molecules that block the AT1r angiotensin-2 receptor (ARBs) as well as a molecule that blocks the secretion of aldosterone (spironolactone). The main objective is to demonstrate the value of losartan and spironolactone therapy in the regulation of the renin-angiotensin system in improving the prognosis of patients infected with COVID-19 and suffering from acute respiratory distress syndrome.

This is a prospective, multicenter, randomized, open-label, controlled, therapeutic trial studying two parallel groups. The population included in this study is any major patient in acute respiratory distress hospitalized in intensive care requiring oxygen support of at least 6L/min and suffering from a PCR-confirmed SARS-cov2 infection. The control group will benefit from the usual resuscitation management of COVID19 , and the experimental group will benefit from losartan and spironolactone treatment in addition to the usual management, according to the study protocol. The number of subjects required has been calculated and 45 patients for each group, for a total of 90 patients.

The SOFA score at D7 will be compared between the "experimental" versus "control" groups using a mean comparison method. The comparison of this criterion and all secondary criteria of judgments between the 2 groups will be performed using a Student or Mann-Whitney test based on the normality of the distribution. The significance threshold will be set at 0.05. No intermediate analysis is scheduled. The analysis will be blinded.

The main expected outcome is an improved prognosis with a decrease in the SOFA severity score at 7 days in resuscitation patients, resulting in an improvement in organ failure. The expected secondary results will be to show the interest of ARA2/Spironolactone treatment on oxygenation based on the PaO2/FiO2 ratio, mechanical ventilation duration and mortality.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a current pandemic infection caused by an RNA virus called Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Severe forms of COVID-19 are most often responsible for isolated respiratory failure in the form of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which accounts for most of the mortality. Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) has been shown to be a co-receptor for the entry of SARS-CoV-2 into cells and is likely to play a prolonged role in the pathogenesis of COVID-19. ACE2 and angiotensin (1-7) have been shown to be protective in a number of different lung lesion models. In a mouse model of acidic lung injury, negative regulation of ACE2 by COVID, the SARS virus responsible for the 2003 SARS outbreak, worsened the lung injury which was improved by treatment with ARBs.

We believe that blocking the first RAS pathway at the end of the chain on the AT1r angiotensin 2 receptor may prevent the initiation of this chain reaction and limit decompensation secondary to the disruption of the equilibrium of the renin-angiotensin system. We have several molecules that block the AT1r angiotensin-2 receptor (ARBs) as well as a molecule that blocks the secretion of aldosterone (spironolactone). The main objective is to demonstrate the value of losartan and spironolactone therapy in the regulation of the renin-angiotensin system in improving the prognosis of patients infected with COVID-19 and suffering from acute respiratory distress syndrome.

This is a prospective, multicenter, randomized, open-label, controlled, therapeutic trial studying two parallel groups. The population included in this study is any major patient in acute respiratory distress hospitalized in intensive care requiring oxygen support of at least 6L/min and suffering from a PCR-confirmed SARS-cov2 infection. The control group will benefit from the usual resuscitation management of COVID19 , and the experimental group will benefit from losartan and spironolactone treatment in addition to the usual management, according to the study protocol. The number of subjects required has been calculated and 45 patients for each group, for a total of 90 patients.

The SOFA score at D7 will be compared between the "experimental" versus "control" groups using a mean comparison method. The comparison of this criterion and all secondary criteria of judgments between the 2 groups will be performed using a Student or Mann-Whitney test based on the normality of the distribution. The significance threshold will be set at 0.05. No intermediate analysis is scheduled. The analysis will be blinded.

The main expected outcome is an improved prognosis with a decrease in the SOFA severity score at 7 days in resuscitation patients, resulting in an improvement in organ failure. The expected secondary results will be to show the interest of ARA2/Spironolactone treatment on oxygenation based on the PaO2/FiO2 ratio, mechanical ventilation duration and mortality.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Adult patient
* Patient with respiratory distress requiring oxygen support of 6 liters per minute or more.
* News-Score greater than 6 PCR SARS-CoV-2 positive in a pharyngeal or respiratory specimen,
* Informed Consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* Minor patient,
* Patient deprived of liberty,
* Refusal of the patient to participate in the study,
* Patient for whom measures of therapeutic limitation have been issued justifying the absence of recourse to mechanical ventilation,
* Patient of 80 years or older,
* Pregnant or breastfeeding woman,
* Patient with prior treatment with ARA2 or ACE inhibitors,
* Hypotension justifying treatment with norepinephrine,
* Acute renal failure with a clearance of less than 60ml/min,
* Severe liver failure.
* Intolerance or contraindication to losartan or spironolactone