Epoprostenol in Pulmonary Embolism

NCT ID: NCT01014156

Last Updated: 2009-11-16

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: PHASE4
• Total Enrollment: 14 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2004-01-31
• Study Completion Date: 2006-06-30

Brief Summary

You are admitted to hospital because of pulmonary embolism. You are treated with anticoagulants.

The investigators know that, despite this treatment, pulmonary embolism can be a threat especially if heart function is compromized.

The investigators investigate a well known study drug (epoprostenol) on top of regular treatment with anticoagulants, to see if heart function can be optimized

Detailed Description

Pulmonary thromboembolism (PE) with circulatory and/or respiratory symptoms is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Acute pulmonary hypertension is the hallmark of severe PE, and is to be held responsible for the full spectrum of clinical manifestations and complications. Although it is common belief that only mechanical obstruction by thrombus mass causes this pulmonary hypertension, there is strong evidence indicating that pulmonary vasoconstriction contributes significantly to the rise in pulmonary vascular resistance.

Although all patients will receive anticoagulant treatment immediately after the diagnosis is established, morbidity and mortality are still disturbingly high when circulatory and/or respiratory symptoms accompany PE, or when hemodynamically stable PE patients have echocardiographic signs of acute right ventricle overload. There are no generally accepted guidelines for additional treatment options in these patients with moderate-to-severe PE. Thrombolytic therapy is recommended by many when hemodynamic symptoms are severe, but its effectiveness has never been proven in a controlled trial. In patients with moderate-to-large PE associated with echocardiographic signs of right ventricle overload, but who are still circulatory stable, mortality is increased, but thrombolytic therapy appears not to be beneficial.

Given the plausible role of pulmonary vasoconstriction in the pathogenesis of PE associated pulmonary hypertension, the potential benefit of pulmonary vasodilators is important.There is experimental evidence that antagonising pulmonary vasoconstriction by the administration of selective vasodilators may be beneficial in animals with PE. In addition, anecdotal evidence of a similar kind exists for humans with acute PE.

We hypothesise that in PE patients who have echocardiographic evidence of acute right ventricle overload, epoprostenol sodium (Flolan®) results in partial or complete reversal of echocardiographic abnormalities, as well as in improvement in respiratory and circulatory symptoms and signs.

Conditions

Acute Pulmonary Embolism

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

epoprostenol intraveneously

epoprostenol iv versus placebo iv, both on top of low molecular weight heparin

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

epoprostenol

Intervention Type: DRUG

titration up to 4 ng/kg/min

Interventions

epoprostenol

titration up to 4 ng/kg/min

Intervention Type: DRUG

Other Intervention Names

prostacyclin, flolan

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• acute (symptoms <24 hrs) with right ventricular dilatation (>30 mm end diastolic, systolic PAP > 50 mmHg,
• absence of right ventricular wall hypertrophy)

Exclusion Criteria

• age below 18 years or above 70 years
• body mass index >35 kg/m2
• duration of symptoms >24 hours (since onset or acute increase in symptoms)
• severe circulatory shock (systemic blood pressure systolic <80 mmHg, or diastolic blood pressure <45 mmHg) or respiratory failure, requiring mechanical ventilation.
• patients who, in the opinion of the supervising physician, require thrombolytic therapy.
• severe pre-existent cardiopulmonary disease (heart failure, obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema)
• atrial fibrillation
• refusal or inability to give informed consent

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Free University Medical Center

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Free University Medical Center

Locations

Free University Medical Center

Amsterdam, , Netherlands

Countries

Netherlands

References

Kooter AJ, Ijzerman RG, Kamp O, Boonstra AB, Smulders YM. No effect of epoprostenol on right ventricular diameter in patients with acute pulmonary embolism: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Pulm Med. 2010 Mar 30;10:18. doi: 10.1186/1471-2466-10-18.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 20353588 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

03.123

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id