NCT02517489

Brief Summary

Mortality of severe Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) has not declined over time and is between 25 and 30% in sub-groups of patients. Corticosteroids (CTx) could down-regulate pulmonary and systemic inflammation, accelerate clinical resolution and decrease the rate of inflammation-associated systemic complications. Two recent meta-analyses suggest a positive effect on severe CAP day 28 survival when CTx are added to standard therapy. However they are based on only four trials gathering less than 300 patients, of which only one was positive. Recently published guidelines do not recommend CTx as part of CAP treatment. Therefore a well-powered trial appears necessary to test the hypothesis that CTx - and more specifically hydrocortisone - could improve day 28 survival of critically-ill patients with severe CAP, severity being assessed either on a Pulmonary Severity Index ≥ 130 (Fine class V) or by the use of mechanical ventilation or high-FiO2 high-flow oxygen therapy. A phase-III multicenter add-on randomized controlled double-blind superiority trial assessing the efficacy of hydrocortisone vs. placebo on Day 28 all-causes mortality, in addition to antibiotics and supportive care, including the correction of hypoxemia. Randomization will be stratified on: (i) centers; (ii) use of mechanical ventilation at the time of inclusion.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
952

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for phase_3

Timeline
Completed

Started Oct 2015

Longer than P75 for phase_3

Geographic Reach
1 country

32 active sites

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

July 31, 2015

Completed
7 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

August 7, 2015

Completed
3 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

October 28, 2015

Completed
4.7 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

July 19, 2020

Completed
1 month until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

August 28, 2020

Completed
Last Updated

December 22, 2025

Status Verified

January 1, 2023

Enrollment Period

4.7 years

First QC Date

July 31, 2015

Last Update Submit

December 15, 2025

Conditions

Keywords

Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP)HydrocortisoneCorticosteroidsCOronaVIrus Disease

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

  • Day 28 all causes mortality

    at day 28

  • Day 21 failure

    For the sub-group of patients included with COVID19, failure is defined as death or need of respiratory support (mechanical ventilation or high-flow oxygen therapy);

    at day 21

Secondary Outcomes (18)

  • In patients non-invasively ventilated at inclusion, proportion of patients needing endotracheal intubation

    Participants will be followed for the duration of hospital stay, for a maximum of 28 days

  • In patients non-ventilated at inclusion, proportion of patients requiring non-invasive ventilation

    Participants will be followed for the duration of hospital stay, for a maximum of 28 days

  • In patients non-ventilated at inclusion, proportion of patients needing endotracheal intubation

    Participants will be followed for the duration of hospital stay, for a maximum of 28 days

  • Day 28 ventilator-free-days

    between 0 and day 28

  • Number of patients with vasopressor therapy initiation from inclusion to day 28

    between 0 and day 28

  • +13 more secondary outcomes

Other Outcomes (3)

  • P/F ratio measured daily from Day1 to Day7, at Day 14 and at Day 21 and/or at the end of ICU-stay

    from day 1 to day 7, at day 14 and day 21 and/or at the end of ICU-stay

  • Proportion of patients needing endotracheal intubation

    at day 21

  • Proportion of patients experiencing secondary infection during their ICU-stay

    From baseline to day 21

Study Arms (2)

Hydrocortisone

EXPERIMENTAL

Patients in the treatment group will receive intra-venous hydrocortisone (in addition to the standard treatment of severe Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP)

Drug: Hydrocortisone

Placebo

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

Patients of the control group will receive an intravenous placebo by intravenous route (in addition to the standard treatment of severe Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP)

Drug: Placebo

Interventions

Hydrocortisone will be given in a double-blind fashion for 8 or 14 full days. The intravenous route will be used. The treatment course will include 4 or 7 days of full dose (200 mg/day by continuous infusion), 2 or 4 days of half dose (100 mg/day by continuous infusion), and 2 or 3 days of tapering dose (50 mg/day by continuous infusion). Duration of treatment is chosen upon patient initial improvement.

Hydrocortisone

Placebo will be given in a double-blind fashion for 8 or 14 full days. The intravenous route will be used. The treatment course will include 4 or 7 days of full dose (200 mg/day by continuous infusion), 2 or 4 days of half dose (100 mg/day by continuous infusion), and 2 or 3 days of tapering dose (50 mg/day by continuous infusion). Duration of treatment is chosen upon patient initial improvement.

Placebo

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Age ≥ 18 years
  • Patients affiliated to social security scheme
  • Admission to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) or intermediate care unit participating to the trial
  • Diagnosis of Community- Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) suggested by at least two of the following: cough, purulent sputum, chest pain and dyspnea
  • Focal shadowing/infiltrate on chest X-ray or CT-scan
  • Diagnosis of Community- Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) during the 48 hours post-hospital admission
  • Study drug infusion initiated no longer than 24 hours post first severity criterion
  • Severity defined by at least one of the following:
  • Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI) \> 130 (Fine class V)
  • Patient placed on mechanical ventilation (invasive or not) for acute respiratory failure, with a PEEP level of 5 cm of water or more
  • Patient treated by high-flow oxygen therapy with a FiO2 of 50% or more and a P/F ratio less than 300
  • Patient treated by oxygen therapy with a partial rebreathing-mask with a reservoir bag, provided that the PaO2 is less than (cf. table):
  • Oxygen flow (L/min) 6 7 8 9 10 or more PaO2 (mmHg) less than 180 210 240 270 300
  • Patient already treated by antibiotics (at least one dose since admission to hospital)
  • Informed consent signed by the patient, its relatives or emergency procedure
  • +4 more criteria

You may not qualify if:

  • Clinical history suggesting of aspiration of gastric content
  • Patient treated by invasive mechanical ventilation within 14 days before current hospital admission
  • Patient treated by antibiotics for a respiratory infection for more than seven days at the admission to the hospital (except if a pathogen resistant to this antibiotics is isolated)
  • History of cystic fibrosis
  • Post-obstructive pneumonia
  • Patients in which rapid PCR-test is positive for flu
  • Active tuberculosis or fungal infection
  • Active viral hepatitis or active infection with herpes viruses
  • Myelosuppression
  • Decision of withholding mechanical ventilation or endotracheal intubation
  • Hypersensitivity to corticosteroids
  • Patient needing anti-inflammatory corticosteroids or substitutive hydrocortisone for any reason
  • Patients under treatment by more than 15 mg/d of prednisone (or equivalent) for more than 30 days
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding woman
  • Patient on judicial protection

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (32)

Service de Réanimation - Unité de Soins Continus, CH d'Angoulême

Angoulême, 16959, France

Location

Service de Réanimation Polyvalente, CH d'Argenteuil

Argenteuil, 95107, France

Location

Service de Réanimation, CHR Metz-Thionville

Ars-Laquenexy, 57530, France

Location

Service de Réanimation

Aulnay-sous-Bois, 93602, France

Location

Service de Réanimation

Belfort, 90015, France

Location

Service de Réanimation

Bourg-en-Bresse, France

Location

Service de Réanimation HIA Clermont-Tonnerre

Brest, 29240, France

Location

Service de Réanimation Médicale, CHU de Brest

Brest, 29609, France

Location

Service de Réanimation, CHU Côte de Nacre

Caen, 14033, France

Location

Service de Réanimation Médicale, Hôpital Louis Pasteur, Chartres

Chartres, 28000, France

Location

Service de Réanimation Médicale Polyvalente, Hôpital G Montpied

Clermont-Ferrand, 63003, France

Location

Service de Réanimation, Hôpital Louis Mourier

Colombes, 92700, France

Location

Service de Réanimation Médicale, CHU de Dijon

Dijon, 21079, France

Location

Service de Réanimation Médico-Chirurgicale, Hôpital Raymond Poincarré, APHP

Garches, 92380, France

Location

Service de Réanimation Médicale, CHU de Grenoble

Grenoble, 38043, France

Location

Service de Réanimation Polyvalente, CHD La Roche sur Yon

La Roche-sur-Yon, 85925, France

Location

Service de Réanimation, CH Le Mans

Le Mans, 72037, France

Location

Service de Réanimation Polyvalente, Hôpital Salengro, CHU de Lille

Lille, 59037, France

Location

Service de Réanimation Polyvalente, CHU de Limoges

Limoges, 87042, France

Location

Service de Réanimation Médicale, Hôpital Nord

Marseille, 13015, France

Location

Service de Réanimation Polyvalente - Surveillance Continue, CH de Montauban

Montauban, 82013, France

Location

Service de Réanimation Médicale, CHU de Nancy

Nancy, 54511, France

Location

Service de Réanimation Polyvalente, Hôpital Hôtel Dieu, CHU de Nantes

Nantes, 44093, France

Location

Service de Réanimation Médicale, CHR d'Orléans

Orléans, 45067, France

Location

Service de Réanimation Médicale, Hôpital Cochin, APHP

Paris, 75014, France

Location

Service de Réanimation et USC médico-chirurgicale, Hôpital Tenon, APHP

Paris, 75020, France

Location

Service de Réanimation Médicale et Médecine Interne, CHU de Poitiers

Poitiers, 86021, France

Location

Service des Maladies Infectieuses et Réanimation Médicale, CHU de Rennes

Rennes, 35033, France

Location

Service de Réanimation

Saint-Brieuc, 22000, France

Location

Service de Réanimation Polyvalente, CH de Saint Malo

St-Malo, 35403, France

Location

Service de Réanimation Médicale, Nouvel Hôpital Civil, CHU de Strasbourg

Strasbourg, 67091, France

Location

Service de Réanimation Médicale, Hôpital de Hautepierre, CHU de Strasbourg

Strasbourg, 67098, France

Location

Related Publications (3)

  • Dequin PF, Heming N, Meziani F, Plantefeve G, Voiriot G, Badie J, Francois B, Aubron C, Ricard JD, Ehrmann S, Jouan Y, Guillon A, Leclerc M, Coffre C, Bourgoin H, Lengelle C, Caille-Fenerol C, Tavernier E, Zohar S, Giraudeau B, Annane D, Le Gouge A; CAPE COVID Trial Group and the CRICS-TriGGERSep Network. Effect of Hydrocortisone on 21-Day Mortality or Respiratory Support Among Critically Ill Patients With COVID-19: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2020 Oct 6;324(13):1298-1306. doi: 10.1001/jama.2020.16761.

  • Friedrich JO, Gouvea Bogossian E. Hydrocortisone in Severe Community-Acquired Pneumonia. N Engl J Med. 2023 Aug 17;389(7):670-671. doi: 10.1056/NEJMc2307400. No abstract available.

  • Dequin PF, Meziani F, Quenot JP, Kamel T, Ricard JD, Badie J, Reignier J, Heming N, Plantefeve G, Souweine B, Voiriot G, Colin G, Frat JP, Mira JP, Barbarot N, Francois B, Louis G, Gibot S, Guitton C, Giacardi C, Hraiech S, Vimeux S, L'Her E, Faure H, Herbrecht JE, Bouisse C, Joret A, Terzi N, Gacouin A, Quentin C, Jourdain M, Leclerc M, Coffre C, Bourgoin H, Lengelle C, Caille-Fenerol C, Giraudeau B, Le Gouge A; CRICS-TriGGERSep Network. Hydrocortisone in Severe Community-Acquired Pneumonia. N Engl J Med. 2023 May 25;388(21):1931-1941. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2215145. Epub 2023 Mar 21.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Community-Acquired Pneumonia

Interventions

Hydrocortisone

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Community-Acquired InfectionsInfectionsPneumoniaRespiratory Tract InfectionsRespiratory Tract Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

PregnenedionesPregnenesPregnanesSteroidsFused-Ring CompoundsPolycyclic Compounds11-HydroxycorticosteroidsHydroxycorticosteroidsAdrenal Cortex HormonesHormonesHormones, Hormone Substitutes, and Hormone Antagonists17-Hydroxycorticosteroids

Study Officials

  • Pierre-François DEQUIN, MD-PhD

    CHRU de TOURS

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
phase 3
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
TRIPLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER, INVESTIGATOR
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

July 31, 2015

First Posted

August 7, 2015

Study Start

October 28, 2015

Primary Completion

July 19, 2020

Study Completion

August 28, 2020

Last Updated

December 22, 2025

Record last verified: 2023-01

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Locations