Population Pharmacokinetics of Remifentanil in Low-Weight Critically Ill Patients

NCT ID: NCT07301970

Last Updated: 2025-12-24

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Total Enrollment

45 participants

Study Classification

OBSERVATIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-09-22

Study Completion Date

2026-11-30

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

The goal of this prospective clinical study is to learn about the population pharmacokinetics (PopPK), safety, and efficacy of remifentanil in low-body-weight patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) who require mechanical ventilation. The main questions it aims to answer are:

1. What are the pharmacokinetic characteristics of remifentanil in low-weight ICU patients?
2. How does remifentanil (and concurrent propofol use) affect hemodynamic stability (such as blood pressure) and sedation efficacy in this population?

Participants receiving mechanical ventilation will receive remifentanil for analgesia and sedation according to a standardized protocol. They will undergo arterial blood sampling at specific time points to measure drug concentrations. Researchers will also record hemodynamic parameters. Additionally, a subset of patients receiving propofol as a rescue sedative will have plasma propofol concentrations measured to evaluate its influence on blood pressure changes.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

1. Background: Remifentanil is a lipophilic μ-opioid receptor agonist characterized by rapid onset and offset, making it ideal for analgosedation in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Body weight is a significant factor affecting its pharmacokinetics (PK). Low-body-weight patients may require different dosing strategies. This study aims to establish a population pharmacokinetic (PopPK) model for remifentanil in mechanically ventilated patients with low body weight and to evaluate its safety and efficacy, with a specific focus on hemodynamic stability.
2. Study Protocol \& Dosing Strategy: This is a single-center, prospective observational study designed to reflect real-world clinical practice. Eligible patients requiring invasive mechanical ventilation will receive remifentanil for analgesia and sedation.

* Co-administration: In accordance with standard ICU practice, remifentanil is often administered concurrently with propofol to ensure adequate sedation and analgesia.
* Dosing Regimen: The administration of a loading dose is discretionary based on the patient's clinical condition; in many cases, a continuous infusion is initiated directly without a loading dose to maintain hemodynamic stability.
* Infusion Rate: The continuous infusion is typically initiated at a standardized clinical rate (e.g., approximately 0.18 mg/h) or a weight-based equivalent.
* Titration: Subsequent dosing is titrated dynamically based on clinical response (e.g., patient comfort, ventilator synchrony) and hemodynamic tolerance.
3. Pharmacokinetic Sampling (Sparse \& Opportunistic): Blood samples are not collected at rigid clock times but are distributed to capture key PK phases:

* Absorption/Distribution Phase: Samples collected within the first hour of infusion (e.g., 1-2 samples).
* Steady State: Samples collected during stable continuous infusion.
* Elimination Phase: Samples collected immediately prior to stopping the infusion and at multiple intervals after discontinuation.

5.Hemodynamic Assessment \& Propofol Co-variate Analysis: Hemodynamic parameters (MAP, HR) are continuously monitored. Given that propofol is co-administered in most patients and significantly impacts hemodynamics, plasma propofol concentrations will be measured in a subset of patients. These data will be incorporated into the PopPK/PD analysis as a covariate to distinguish the hemodynamic effects of remifentanil from those of propofol.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Critical Illness Pain

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Observational Model Type

COHORT

Study Time Perspective

PROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

Low-weight group

BMI \< 18.5

Remifentanil

Intervention Type DRUG

Patients receive remifentanil for analgesia and sedation during mechanical ventilation. The administration follows standard ICU clinical practice, typically initiated at a continuous infusion rate (e.g., approximately 0.18 mg/h or weight-based equivalent) and titrated based on patient response.

Normal-weight group

18.5 ≤ BMI\< 24

Remifentanil

Intervention Type DRUG

Patients receive remifentanil for analgesia and sedation during mechanical ventilation. The administration follows standard ICU clinical practice, typically initiated at a continuous infusion rate (e.g., approximately 0.18 mg/h or weight-based equivalent) and titrated based on patient response.

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

Remifentanil

Patients receive remifentanil for analgesia and sedation during mechanical ventilation. The administration follows standard ICU clinical practice, typically initiated at a continuous infusion rate (e.g., approximately 0.18 mg/h or weight-based equivalent) and titrated based on patient response.

Intervention Type DRUG

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* Age: ≥18 years old, regardless of sex;
* Normal weight: 18.5 kg/m² ≤ Body Mass Index (BMI) \< 24 kg/m² or Low weight: BMI \< 18.5 kg/m²;
* Admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU);
* Required invasive mechanical ventilation for more than 10 hours;
* The subject or their legal guardian has fully understood the potential risks and benefits of participating in this study and has signed the informed consent form.

Exclusion Criteria

* Pregnant women;
* Presence of severe respiratory impairment or respiratory depression during the screening period;
* Known hypersensitivity to remifentanil or any of the excipients;
* Meeting other contraindications for opioid use
Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

Fudan University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Xiang Li

Director

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.

Xiang Li

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Shanghai Minhang Central Hospital

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

Shanghai Minhang Central Hospital

Shanghai, , China

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

China

Central Contacts

Reach out to these primary contacts for questions about participation or study logistics.

Xiang Li

Role: CONTACT

Phone: +86 18918169826

Email: [email protected]

Facility Contacts

Find local site contact details for specific facilities participating in the trial.

Xiang Li

Role: primary

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

2025-007-01K

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id