NCT04404426

Brief Summary

Respiratory involvement of SARS-CoV2 leads to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and significant immunosuppression (lymphopenia) exposing patients to long ventilation duration and late mortality linked to the acquisition of nosocomial infections. Lymphopenia characteristic of severe forms of ARDS secondary to SARS-CoV2 infection may be linked to expansion of MDSCs and arginine depletion of lymphocytes. Severe forms of COVID-19 pneumonitis are marked by persistent ARDS with acquisition of nosocomial infections as well as by prolonged lymphocytic dysfunction associated with the emergence of MDSC. It has been found in intensive care patients hypoargininaemia, associated with the persistence of organ dysfunction (evaluated by the SOFA score), the occurrence of nosocomial infections and mortality. Also, it has been demonstrated that in these patients, the enteral administration of ARG was not deleterious and increased the synthesis of ornithine, suggesting a preferential use of ARG by the arginase route, without significant increase in argininaemia nor effect on immune functions. L-citrulline (CIT), an endogenous precursor of ARG, is an interesting alternative to increase the availability of ARG. Recent data demonstrate that the administration of CIT in intensive care is not deleterious and that it very significantly reduces mortality in an animal model of sepsis, corrects hypoargininemia, with convincing data on immunological parameters such as lymphopenia, which is associated with mortality, organ dysfunction and the occurrence of nosocomial infections. The availability of ARG directly impacts the mitochondrial metabolism of T lymphocytes and their function. The hypothesis is therefore that CIT supplementation is more effective than the administration of ARG to correct hypoargininaemia, decrease lymphocyte dysfunction, correct immunosuppression and organ dysfunction in septic patients admitted to intensive care. The main objective is to show that, in patients hospitalized in intensive care for ARDS secondary to COVID-19 pneumonia, the group of patients receiving L-citrulline for 7 days, compared to the group receiving placebo, has a score of organ failure decreased on D7 (evaluated by the SOFA score) or by the last known SOFA score if the patient has died or been resuscitated.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

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

Enrollment
33

participants targeted

Target at P25-P50 for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Nov 2020

Shorter than P25 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

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

May 22, 2020

Completed
5 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

May 27, 2020

Completed
5 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

November 4, 2020

Completed
5 months until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

March 25, 2021

Completed
2 months until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

May 28, 2021

Completed
Last Updated

June 2, 2021

Status Verified

May 1, 2021

Enrollment Period

5 months

First QC Date

May 22, 2020

Last Update Submit

May 28, 2021

Conditions

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • SOFA

    SOFA score for organ failures on D8 or last known SOFA score if the patient has died or been resuscitated

    Day 8

Secondary Outcomes (17)

  • Number and phenotype of lymphocytes

    Days 1, 8 and 14

  • HLA-DR

    Days 1, 8 and 14

  • Number of Myeloid-derived suppressor cells

    Days 1, 8 and 14

  • Plasma cytokines / chemokines

    Days 1, 8 and 14

  • Repertoire T

    Days 1, 3, 8, 10 and 14

  • +12 more secondary outcomes

Study Arms (2)

L-citrulline

EXPERIMENTAL

Administration of citrulline enterally for 7 days

Dietary Supplement: L-citrulline

Placebo

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

Administration of placeboenterally for 7 days

Other: Placebo

Interventions

L-citrullineDIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Administration of citrulline enterally for 7 days.

L-citrulline
PlaceboOTHER

Administration of placebo (water) enterally for 7 days

Placebo

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

  • Age greater than or equal to 18 years;
  • Patients admitted for less than 48 hours in intensive care for ARDS under mechanical ventilation according to the Berlin criteria published in 2012 (JAMA);
  • Origin of ARDS: COVID-19 pneumopathy confirmed by PCR (nasopharyngeal or tracheal sample);
  • Life expectancy\> 2 days;
  • Affiliated to a social security scheme;
  • Consent signed by the patient, the relative or the legal representative (except emergency procedure).

You may not qualify if:

  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding in progress;
  • State of immunosuppression defined by at least one of these criteria: continuous administration of steroids at any dose for more than a month before hospitalization, steroids in high doses (\> 15 mg / kg / day of methylprednisolone or equivalent), radiotherapy or chemotherapy in the previous year, proven humoral or cellular deficiency;
  • Contraindication to enteral nutrition (2016 SRLF recommendations: "Enteral nutrition probably should not be used upstream of a high-flow digestive fistula in the event of intestinal obstruction, small ischemia or digestive hemorrhage active (Strong chord) ").
  • Ongoing immunosuppressive therapy such as chemotherapy, cyclophosphamide, high dose corticosteroid therapy (\> 15 mg / kg / day);
  • Participation in intervention research on a drug, or intervention research that may impact the immune system.

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Rennes University Hospital

Rennes, Britanny, 35000, France

Location

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Citrulline

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Amino Acids, DiaminoAmino AcidsAmino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
TRIPLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER, INVESTIGATOR
Masking Details
Double-blind
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Model Details: Prospective, multicenter, placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind, two-parallel study, specific enteral administration by citrulline in a subgroup of resuscitation patients admitted for ARDS secondary to COVID-19 pneumonia, at infectious risk nosocomial important because having biological stigmas of immunosuppression on admission and under invasive mechanical ventilation for a prolonged period.
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

May 22, 2020

First Posted

May 27, 2020

Study Start

November 4, 2020

Primary Completion

March 25, 2021

Study Completion

May 28, 2021

Last Updated

June 2, 2021

Record last verified: 2021-05

Locations