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COVID 19NCT04457349

Therapeutic Plasma Exchange in Resistant Cytokine Storm of COVID 19

A study testing Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE) in people with COVID 19, run by Alexandria University at 1 site in Egypt.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

This research is planned to illustrate the efficacy of Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE) treatment in COVID-19 patients with resistant cytokine storm state. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
COVID 19
What is being tested?
Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE)
Type of treatment
Surgery or procedure
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
10 participants
Where
1 siteEgypt
Study dates
25 Jul 2020to 20 Jan 2021
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • COVID-19 positive patients (confirmed by PCR) with cytokine storm state who will not improve after two doses of tocilizumab.
  • Criteria of failure (resistance) to tocilizumab:
  • Persistent high IL-6 and CRP.
  • Persistent worsening of respiratory symptoms ( dyspnea, tachypnea, increased oxygen (O2) requirements or even need for mechanical ventilation).
  • Partial arterial pressure of oxygen to fractional inspired concentration of oxygen (PaO2/FiO2) ratio < 150.
  • Persistent fever (˃38.5°C) despite normal procalcitonin level.

Who cannot join

  • Refractory septic shock:
  • ( It is defined according to surviving sepsis campaign as the presence of hypotension with end organ dysfunction requiring high dose vasopressor support often greater than 0.5 µg/kg/min norepinephrine or equivalent).

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Egypt1 site
  • Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria university, Egypt

    Alexandria, 21526

Other trials in Egypt

About this study

Official title: Does Therapeutic Plasma Exchange Have A Role in Resistant Cytokine Storm State Of COVID-19 Infection?

This research is planned to illustrate the efficacy of Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE) treatment in COVID-19 patients with resistant cytokine storm state.

Read the detailed description

In early December 2019, several pneumonia cases of unknown origin were observed in Wuhan (China). A novel enveloped RNA β coronavirus was isolated and named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The new virus rapidly spread across China and worldwide. On March 11th 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) a pandemic. As of 19June 2020, COVID-19 has been confirmed in 8,385,440 individuals globally with deaths reaching 450,686 with a morality of 5.37%. Egypt has 50,437 confirmed cases and 1938 deaths.

The virus mainly spreads through respiratory droplets from infected patients.The clinical spectrum of COVID-19 infection ranges from asymptomatic forms to severe pneumonia requiring hospitalization and isolation in critical care units with the need of mechanical ventilation due to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Main symptoms include fever, fatigue and dry cough. Common laboratory findings include lymphopenia and elevated lactate dehydrogenase levels. Platelet count is usually normal or mildly decreased. C reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate are usually increased while procalcitonin levels are normal and elevation of procalcitonin usually indicates secondary bacterial infection. Ferritin, D-dimer, and creatine kinase elevation is associated with severe disease. Chest computed tomographic scans show a typical pattern of bilateral patchy shadows or ground glass opacity.

Severe COVID-19 conditions are usually due to an aggressive inflammatory response known as "cytokine storm" that is characterized by the release of a large amount of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Lung injury, multiorgan failure, and unfavorable prognosis of severe COVID-19 infection have been attributed mainly to the cytokine storm state.

Many proinflammatory cytokines elevate in COVID-19 patients including IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interferon Ȣ(IFN-Ȣ) stimulating immune cells to invade sites of infection causing endothelial dysfunction, vascular damage, alveolar damage and ARDS. Cytokine storm has been reported in several viral infections including influenza H5N1 virus, influenza H1N1 virus, and the two coronaviruses highly related to COVID-19; "SARS-CoV" and "MERS-CoV".

Therapeutic approaches to manage the COVID-19 cytokine storm might provide an avenue to decrease the COVID-19 associated morbidity and mortality. Options include immunomodulators, cytokine antagonists and cytokine removal. Tocilizumab (IL-6 antagonist), Anakinra (antagonist of IL-1 β), TNF blockers, ruxolitinib (JAK1/2 inhibitor ), corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulins and therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) have been used with variable efficacy.

Therapeutic plasma exchange can remove inflammatory factors, block the "cytokine storm", to reduce the damage of inflammatory response to the body. This therapy can be used for severe and critical patients in the early and middle stages of the disease. Patel and colleagues utilized TPE during the 2009 H1N1 influenza A outbreak in three pediatric patients presenting in a similar fashion to those seen with fulminant COVID-19 today. All three had full recovery from their illness after receiving rescue TPE. Adeli at al. used TPE as a rescue therapy in patients with severe forms of COVID-19 ( septic shock, ARDS ) with very good results. Out of 8 patients, 7 patients improved and one patient died. Zhang et al. also tried TPE in three COVID-19 patients who despite receiving antiviral treatment developed respiratory distress and levels of IL-6 increased rapidly. All patients improved clinically and radiologically with negative nucleic acid testing and were discharged 10-14 days later.

In Egypt, the first line drug to treat cytokine storm of COVID-19 is tocilizumab with good results. But a considerable percentage of patients do not respond to it leaving physicians with very limited options and usually patients deteriorated rapidly with high mortality. Based on the encouraging results of TPE in severe COVID-19 infections and the familiarity of the procedure, TPE could be a good option in those patients who do not respond to tocilizumab.

Conditions
COVID 19
Being tested
Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE)
Medical subject headings
COVID-19

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE)Procedure or surgery

    Also called plasmapheresis

    Treatment with Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE)

Study groups in NCT04457349
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE)ExperimentalEach patient will undergo two sessions. TPE will be done through filtration technique using a plasma filter at a dose of (1-1.5) plasma volume/session. Fresh frozen plasma or albumin 5% will be used to replace plasma.
Receives: Procedure: Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE)

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. mortality

    Number of patients deaths of the total of patients included

    Measured: 28 day

Secondary outcomes (15)
  1. the mean time with oxygen therapy

    to calculate the mean time with oxygen therapy

    Measured: through study completion, and average of 1 month

  2. the mean time with Non-invasive mechanical ventilation

    to calculate the mean time with Non-invasive mechanical ventilation

    Measured: through study completion, and average of 1 month

  3. the mean time of intubation

    to calculate the mean time of intubation

    Measured: through study completion, and average of 1 month

  4. respiratory function parameters

    To calculate the mean of PaO2/FiO2

    Measured: through study completion, and average of 1 month

  5. respiratory function parameters

    To calculate the mean of levels of oxygen saturation

    Measured: through study completion, and average of 1 month

  6. radiological lung extension

    to evaluate the lung extension of pneumonia

    Measured: through study completion, and average of 1 month

  7. mean duration of hospitalization and ICU use

    Days of hospitalization in survivors and/or days at ICU throughout the study

    Measured: through study completion, and average of 1 month

  8. the requirement of additional organ support

    Percentage of patients with dialysis

    Measured: through study completion, and average of 1 month

  9. the levels of IL-6

    To evaluate the effect of TPE on the serum levels of inflammatory markers

    Measured: through study completion, and average of 1 month

  10. Incidence of adverse events

    To calculate the number of adverse events in patients with COVID-19 treated with TPE

    Measured: through study completion, and average of 1 month

  11. time to reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) virus negativity

    To evaluate the time to RT-PCR virus negativity

    Measured: through study completion, and average of 1 month

  12. the levels of CRP

    To evaluate the effect of TPE on the serum levels of inflammatory markers

    Measured: through study completion, and average of 1 month

  13. the levels of procalcitonin (PCT)

    To evaluate the effect of TPE on the serum levels of inflammatory markers

    Measured: through study completion, and average of 1 month

  14. levels of D-dimer

    To evaluate the effect of TPE on the serum levels of inflammatory markers

    Measured: through study completion, and average of 1 month

  15. levels of ferritin

    To evaluate the effect of TPE on the serum levels of inflammatory markers

    Measured: through study completion, and average of 1 month

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted7 Jul 2020
  2. Study start25 Jul 2020
  3. Primary completion29 Dec 2020
  4. Study completion20 Jan 2021

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
10 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04457349
Sponsor's protocol ID
plasma exchange in COVID 19
Status last verified
Apr 2022
First submitted
30 Jun 2020
Last updated
15 Apr 2022
Results posted
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No

Publications

  • Chan JF, Yuan S, Kok KH, To KK, Chu H, Yang J, Xing F, Liu J, Yip CC, Poon RW, Tsoi HW, Lo SK, Chan KH, Poon VK, Chan WM, Ip JD, Cai JP, Cheng VC, Chen H, Hui CK, Yuen KY. A familial cluster of pneumonia associated with the 2019 novel coronavirus indicating person-to-person transmission: a study of a family cluster. Lancet. 2020 Feb 15;395(10223):514-523. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30154-9. Epub 2020 Jan 24.

    PubMed 31986261
  • Singhal T. A Review of Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19). Indian J Pediatr. 2020 Apr;87(4):281-286. doi: 10.1007/s12098-020-03263-6. Epub 2020 Mar 13.

    PubMed 32166607
  • Chen N, Zhou M, Dong X, Qu J, Gong F, Han Y, Qiu Y, Wang J, Liu Y, Wei Y, Xia J, Yu T, Zhang X, Zhang L. Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of 99 cases of 2019 novel coronavirus pneumonia in Wuhan, China: a descriptive study. Lancet. 2020 Feb 15;395(10223):507-513. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30211-7. Epub 2020 Jan 30.

    PubMed 32007143
  • Ruan Q, Yang K, Wang W, Jiang L, Song J. Clinical predictors of mortality due to COVID-19 based on an analysis of data of 150 patients from Wuhan, China. Intensive Care Med. 2020 May;46(5):846-848. doi: 10.1007/s00134-020-05991-x. Epub 2020 Mar 3. No abstract available.

    PubMed 32125452
  • Chen G, Wu D, Guo W, Cao Y, Huang D, Wang H, Wang T, Zhang X, Chen H, Yu H, Zhang X, Zhang M, Wu S, Song J, Chen T, Han M, Li S, Luo X, Zhao J, Ning Q. Clinical and immunological features of severe and moderate coronavirus disease 2019. J Clin Invest. 2020 May 1;130(5):2620-2629. doi: 10.1172/JCI137244.

    PubMed 32217835
  • Sun D, Li H, Lu XX, Xiao H, Ren J, Zhang FR, Liu ZS. Clinical features of severe pediatric patients with coronavirus disease 2019 in Wuhan: a single center's observational study. World J Pediatr. 2020 Jun;16(3):251-259. doi: 10.1007/s12519-020-00354-4. Epub 2020 Mar 19.

    PubMed 32193831
  • Kalaiyarasu S, Kumar M, Senthil Kumar D, Bhatia S, Dash SK, Bhat S, Khetan RK, Nagarajan S. Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus induces cytokine dysregulation with suppressed maturation of chicken monocyte-derived dendritic cells. Microbiol Immunol. 2016 Oct;60(10):687-693. doi: 10.1111/1348-0421.12443.

    PubMed 27730669
  • Channappanavar R, Perlman S. Pathogenic human coronavirus infections: causes and consequences of cytokine storm and immunopathology. Semin Immunopathol. 2017 Jul;39(5):529-539. doi: 10.1007/s00281-017-0629-x. Epub 2017 May 2.

    PubMed 28466096
  • Ye Q, Wang B, Mao J. The pathogenesis and treatment of the ;Cytokine Storm' in COVID-19. J Infect. 2020 Jun;80(6):607-613. doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2020.03.037. Epub 2020 Apr 10.

    PubMed 32283152
  • Patel P, Nandwani V, Vanchiere J, Conrad SA, Scott LK. Use of therapeutic plasma exchange as a rescue therapy in 2009 pH1N1 influenza A--an associated respiratory failure and hemodynamic shock. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2011 Mar;12(2):e87-9. doi: 10.1097/PCC.0b013e3181e2a569.

    PubMed 20453703
  • Adeli SH, Asghari A, Tabarraii R, Shajari R, Afshari S, Kalhor N, Vafaeimanesh J. Therapeutic plasma exchange as a rescue therapy in patients with coronavirus disease 2019: a case series. Pol Arch Intern Med. 2020 May 29;130(5):455-458. doi: 10.20452/pamw.15340. Epub 2020 May 7. No abstract available.

    PubMed 32380821
  • Zhang L, Zhai H, Ma S, Chen J, Gao Y. Efficacy of therapeutic plasma exchange in severe COVID-19 patients. Br J Haematol. 2020 Aug;190(4):e181-e183. doi: 10.1111/bjh.16890. Epub 2020 Jun 12. No abstract available.

    PubMed 32453903
  • Bassi E, Park M, Azevedo LC. Therapeutic strategies for high-dose vasopressor-dependent shock. Crit Care Res Pract. 2013;2013:654708. doi: 10.1155/2013/654708. Epub 2013 Sep 15.

    PubMed 24151551

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE) in people with COVID 19, run by Alexandria University at 1 site in Egypt.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 15 Apr 2022. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Egypt. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

mortality (time frame: 28 day). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04457349, which also lists 13 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 15 Apr 2022.

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