Background: There are no proven therapies specific for pulmonary dysfunction in patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (AHRF) caused by infections (including Covid-19). The full spectrum of AHRF ranges from mild respiratory tract illness to severe pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), multiorgan failure, and death. The efficacy of corticosteroids in AHRF and ARDS caused by infections remains controversial.
Methods: This is a multicenter, randomized, controlled, open-label clinical trial testing dexamethasone in mechanically ventilated adult patients with established AHRF (including ARDS) caused by confirmed pulmonary or systemic infections, admitted in a network of Spanish ICUs. Eligible patients will be randomly assigned to receive dexamethasone: either 6 mg/d x 10 days or 20 mg/d x 5 days followed by 10 mg/d x 5 days. The primary outcome is 60-day mortality. The secondary outcome is the number of ventilator-free days at 28 days. All analyses will be done according to the intention-to-treat principle.
age 18 years or older;
intubated and mechanically ventilated;
acute onset of AHRF (as defined by a PaO2/FiO2 ≤300 mmHg during at least 6 hours from diagnosis. For the measurement of PaO2 and calculation of PaO2/FiO2 ratio, the minimum accepted value for PEEP is 5 cmH2O and for FiO2 is 0.3. ARDS is defined by Berlin criteria,4 which includes: (i) having pneumonia or worsening respiratory symptoms, (ii) bilateral pulmonary infiltrates on chest imaging (x-ray or CT scan), (iii) absence of left atrial hypertension or no clinical signs of left heart failure, and (iv) hypoxemia, as defined by a PaO2/FiO2 ≤300 mmHg on positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) of ≥5 cmH2O, regardless of FiO2.
Pulmonary or systemic infectious etiology of AHRF.
Patients with a known contraindication to corticosteroids,
Patient included in another therapeutic clinical trial
Lack of informed consent
Parallel
Dexamethasone
DrugIntravenous dexamethasone (low vs. moderate doses) during 10 days
60-day mortality
All-cause mortality at 60 days after randomization
Ventilator-free days
Number of ventilator-free days (VFDs) at Day 28 (defined as days being alive and free from mechanical ventilation at day 28 after randomization. For patients ventilated 28 days or longer and for subjects who die, VFD is 0.
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Dr. Negrin University Hospital
Lead sponsor
Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute
Collaborator
Consorcio Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBER)
Collaborator
