Nitric Oxide Gas Inhalation in Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome in COVID-19

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV2) due to novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) related infection (COVID-19) is characterized by severe ventilation perfusion mismatch leading to refractory hypoxemia. To date, there is no specific treatment available for 2019-nCoV. Nitric oxide is a selective pulmonary vasodilator gas used in as a rescue therapy in refractory hypoxemia due to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). In-vitro and clinical evidence indicate that inhaled nitric oxide gas (iNO) has also antiviral activity against other strains of coronavirus. The primary aim of this study is to determine whether inhaled NO improves oxygenation in patients with hypoxic SARS-CoV2. This is a multicenter single-blinded randomized controlled trial with 1:1 individual allocation

Detailed Description
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Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) due to novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) related infection (COVID-19) is characterized by severe ventilation perfusion mismatch leading to refractory hypoxemia. To date, there is no specific treatment available for 2019-nCoV. Nitric oxide is a selective pulmonary vasodilator gas used as a rescue therapy in refractory hypoxemia due to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). In has also shown in-vitro and clinical evidence that inhaled nitric oxide gas (iNO) has antiviral activity against other strains of coronavirus. The primary aim of this study is to determine whether inhaled NO improves oxygenation in patients with hypoxic SARS-CoV2. This is a multicenter randomized controlled trial with 1:1 individual allocation. Patients will be blinded to the treatment. Intubated patients admitted to the intensive care unit with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe hypoxemia will be randomized to receive inhalation of NO (treatment group) or not (control group). Treatment will be stopped when patients are free from hypoxemia for more than 24 hours.

Official Title
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Nitric Oxide Gas Inhalation Therapy for Mechanically Ventilated Patients With Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Caused by SARS-CoV2: a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Conditions
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SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), Coronavirus

Intervention / Treatment
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* Drug: Nitric Oxide Gas


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion criteria: (1) Adult patients, >/= 18 year-old; (2) Patients admitted to the ICU; (3) Patients who are intubated and mechanically ventilated; (4) Confirmed diagnosis of SARS-CoV2 by positive rt-PCR. Exclusion criteria: (1) Patients intubated for more than 72 hours from initiation of the treatment gas; (2) Subjects enrolled in another interventional research study; (3) Physician of record opposed to enrolling the patient due to perceived safety concerns; or any condition that does not allow the protocol to be followed safely; (4) Subjects with past medical history of lung malignancy or pneumonectomy or lung transplant; (5) Subjects receiving a tidal volume < 3 cc/kg of ideal body weight at the time of enrollment; (6) Subjects with severe burns involving more than 40% of Total Body Surface Area; (7) Subjects that have experienced cardiac arrest with CPR for longer than 30 minutes; (8) Subjects with a presumed severe deficit in cerebral function with fixed dilated pupil; (9) Subjects receiving renal replacement therapy at the time of enrollment; (10) Subjects who have an impaired ability to ventilate without assistance; (11) Subjects who have a history of malignancy or other irreversible disease/conditions with a 6-month mortality > 50%; (12) Subjects not fully committed to full support at the time of enrollment; (13) Subject receiving inhaled nitric oxide gas prior to enrollment; (14) Subject's hospital admission unrelated to COVID-19.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 99 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Treatment Group<br>Inhaled Nitric Oxide until PaO2/FiO2 >/= 300 mmHg | Drug: Nitric Oxide Gas<br>* 80 ppm of inhaled nitric oxide for 48 hours, followed by 40 ppm, followed by weaning before stop. Weaning criteria: maintenance of a PaO2/FiO2 ratio >/= 300 for at least 24 hours consecutively.<br>|
| No Intervention: Control Group<br> | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change of arterial oxygenation at 48 hours from enrollment | Difference within groups in terms of PaO2/FiO2 ratio. If a patient dies during the first 48 hours of treatment, the last available blood gas analysis will be used. | 48 hours | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Time to reach normoxemia during the first 28 days after enrollment | Time to recover gas exchange to a PaO2/FiO2 =/> 300 for at least 24 hours during the first 28 days after enrollment, within each group and comparison between groups. If the patient dies before day 28, the patient will be considered as never recovered. | 28 days | 
| Proportion of SARS-nCoV-2 free patients during the first 28 days after enrollment | Daily proportion of patients with a PaO2/FiO2 ratio > 300 for at least 24 hours within each group and comparison between groups. If a patient dies before day 28, the patient will be considered as never recovered. | 28 days | 
| Survival at 28 days from enrollment | Proportion of patients surviving at 28 days within each group and comparison between groups. | 28 days | 
| Survival at 90 days from enrollment | Proportion of patients surviving at 90 days within each group and comparison between groups. | 90 days |