Enhanced Platelet Inhibition in Critically Ill Patients With COVID-19

This is a compassionate use, proof of concept, phase IIb, prospective, interventional, pilot study in which the investigators will evaluate the effects of compassionate-use treatment with IV tirofiban 25 mcg/kg, associated with acetylsalicylic acid IV, clopidogrel PO and fondaparinux 2.5 mg s/c, in patients affected by severe respiratory failure in Covid-19 associated pneumonia who underwent treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).

It is a investigator-initiated, compassionate use, prospective, phase 2b, non randomized, open-label, proof of concept study in which the investigators will evaluate the effects of compassionate-use treatment with IV tirofiban, associated with acetylsalicylic acid PO, clopidogrel PO and fondaparinux 2.5 mg s/c, in patients affected by severe respiratory failure in Covid-19 associated pneumonia who underwent treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).

Patients will be treated with:

1. 25 microgram per kilogram of body weight tirofiban as bolus IV injection (3 minutes) followed by continuous infusion at a rate of 0,15 microgram/kg/minute for 48 hours.
2. acetylsalicylic acid 250 mg IV before starting tirofiban, and this will be continued at a dose of 75mg daily for 30 days.
3. a loading dose of clopidogrel 300 mg PO, followed by 75mg daily for 30 days
4. concurrent fondaparinux 2.5 mg s/c per day for the duration of the in hospital stay.

1) Demographics, body mass index, comorbidities, SOFA score, APACHE II score, Glasgow Coma Scale will be assessed the day the patient is admitted to the IRCU.

2) Blood gas analysis parameters (PaO2, PaCO2, HCO3-, lactates, SaO2, pH), Alveolar-arterial gradient, P/F ratio, respiratory rate, arterial blood pressure, heart rate and Chest X ray or Chest CT scan will be collected at admittance following the standard operating procedures of the IRCU for COVID-19 patients. The same measurement as detailed in 2) will be repeated 1 hour before and 1, 24, 48 and 168 hours after the loading bolus of tirofiban.

Moreover, at admittance, participating patients will undergo a complete blood count, serum dosage of: creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), procalcitonin, c-reactive protein, Prothrombin Time (PT), Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT), D-Dimer, fibrinogen, bilirubin, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate transaminase (AST). The same assessment will be repeated the same morning and 24, 48 and 168 hours after the loading dose of tirofiban.

During hospital stay patients will receive continuous vital sign monitoring including: electrocardiogram tracing, blood arterial pressure, peripheral oxygen saturation and heart rate. Neurological status, signs of active bleeding or the occurrence of adverse effects will be monitored during the whole hospital stay.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2-related pneumonia, defined as positive nasal swab for SARS-CoV-2 infection or positive IgM serum title. A laboratory confirmed diagnosis must be associated with a clinically confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia, with a history of fever ≥ 3 days and multiple pulmonary infiltrates at the chest X-Ray
* Acute de novo severe hypoxic respiratory failure, defined by means of arterial blood gas analysis performed in room air showing severe hypoxemia with an arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) to fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) ratio \< 250 (according to the Berlin 2012 acute respiratory distress syndrome - ARDS - definition), requiring CPAP respiratory support
* D-Dimer value ≥ 3 times the upper level of normal of the laboratory

Exclusion Criteria:

* Ongoing bleeding or bleeding diathesis, contraindications for anticoagulation or increased bleeding risk or history of bleeding in the last eight weeks
* Previous stroke or transient ischemic attack or any intracranial pathology in the last six months, major surgery or trauma within the previous six weeks
* Laboratory confirmed Laboratory confirmed Glucose 6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PDH) deficiency.
* Confirmed or suspected pregnancy or patients in childbearing age.
* Previous known adverse effects or intolerance to the study drugs
* Ongoing septic shock. Septic shock will be defined as the concomitant presence of sepsis (life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection with a Sequential \[Sepsis-related\] Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score of 2 points or more) and need for vasopressors to maintain a mean arterial pressure of 65 mm Hg or greater and a serum lactate level greater than 2 mmol/L (\>18 mg/dL) in the absence of hypovolemia.
* Need for surgery during hospitalization
* Elevated risk of in hospital fall
* Glasgow Coma Scale \<15
* Confirmed diagnosis of dementia or mental disability that jeopardizes the comprehension of the study protocol
* Inability to sign the informed consent