NCT05179499

Brief Summary

Sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to an infection. It happens when the immune system overreacts to an infection and starts to damage the body's tissues and organs. The aim of this research study is to compare the two different ways to treat sepsis, in the early phase of treatment immediately after the participants arrive in hospital. The standard approach is to give a salt solution fluid through a drip in the participants arm to start with, then adding in a medication that increases the blood flow to the participants vital organs (a vasopressor mediation called norepinephrine) if required. The alternative approach is to start the vasopressor medication immediately, and then add in extra salt solution fluid via a drip if required. Vasopressors work by increasing the blood pressure which allows a better blood flow to the internal organs. The investigators plan to see which approach is better and to see if they have a role in improving a patient's recovery time, reducing complications, the length of time they stay in hospital and longer term poor health. Based on research that has already been done, the investigators believe treating patients with vasopressors when they arrive in the Emergency Department, may have potential advantages over the standard fluids used today. However, the evidence is not clear and that is why this research is being done.

Trial Health

77
On Track

Trial Health Score

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

Enrollment
1,006

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for phase_3 sepsis

Timeline
18mo left

Started Oct 2022

Longer than P75 for phase_3 sepsis

Geographic Reach
1 country

25 active sites

Status
recruiting

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

Study Progress72%
Oct 2022Oct 2027

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

November 11, 2021

Completed
2 months until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

January 5, 2022

Completed
9 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

October 11, 2022

Completed
4.1 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

November 1, 2026

Expected
11 months until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

October 1, 2027

Last Updated

February 12, 2026

Status Verified

February 1, 2026

Enrollment Period

4.1 years

First QC Date

November 11, 2021

Last Update Submit

February 10, 2026

Conditions

Keywords

SepsisResuscitationNorepinephrineIntravenous fluidsEmergency MedicineCritical Care

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • The primary objective is to determine whether early PVI (within 12 hours of admission) targeted to MAP of ≥65 mmHg improves clinical effectiveness in hospitalised adult patients with septic shock compared with usual care, in the first 48 hours.

    The primary objective is measured by the Primary outcome of 'Days Alive and Out of Hospital at 90 Days'.

    90 days post randomisation

Secondary Outcomes (17)

  • Accumulated Total Volume of IV fluid

    6,12, 24, 48 and 72 hours post randomisation

  • Lactate clearance from baseline

    6, 12, 24, 48 & 72 hours post randomisation

  • Total Dose of Norepinephrine

    6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours post randomisation

  • Proportion of patients who receive vasopressors

    6, 12, 24 and 48 hours after recruitment to the control arm

  • Proportion of patients who require central venous access

    24 and 48 hours post randomisation

  • +12 more secondary outcomes

Other Outcomes (6)

  • Patient Centred Outcome

    30 days post randomisation

  • Protocol Adherence

    48 hours post randomisation

  • Protocol Adherence

    48 hours post randomisation

  • +3 more other outcomes

Study Arms (2)

Intervention Arm

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants will receive peripheral vasopressor infusion of norepinephrine (16 micrograms/ml) during the initial 48 hour study period. All other care will be as per local protocol.

Drug: Norepinephrine

Standard care

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

Participants allocated to the control arm will receive standard care as defined by the UK NICE guidelines and the Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines during the 48 hour study period post randomisation. All other care will be as per local protocol.

Other: Balanced Crystalloid

Interventions

Norepinepherine should be prepared and delivered at a concentration of 16 micrograms/ml

Intervention Arm

IV fluids administered as per standard care

Standard care

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

  • Age \>18 years
  • Clinically suspected or proven infection resulting in principal reason for acute illness
  • SBP \< 90 mmHg or MAP of \< 65 mmHg (within an hour of eligibility assessment)
  • Measured serum lactate of \> 2 mmol/L. The serum lactate should be measured 2 hours prior to determination of eligibility, where possible. Longer timeframes may be used and justified within the medical notes if, in the opinion of the investigator, the clinical status of the patient has not significantly improved in the time interval between lactate measurement and eligibility assessment. Lactate measurements more than 4 hours prior to eligibility assessment should not normally be used.
  • Hospital presentation within last 12 hours

You may not qualify if:

  • \>1500ml of intravenous fluid prior to screening
  • Clinically judged to require immediate surgery (within one hour of eligibility assessment)
  • Immediate (\< 1 hour) requirement for central venous access
  • Chronic renal replacement therapy
  • Known allergy/adverse reaction to norepinephrine
  • Palliation / end of life care (explicit decision by patient/family/carer in conjunction with clinical team that active treatment beyond symptomatic relief is not appropriate)
  • Previous recruitment in the trial
  • Patients with permanent incapacity
  • Pregnancy. All women of childbearing potential (WoCBP) must have a negative urine or serum pregnancy test result completed as part of screening requirements.
  • WoCBP are defined as fertile, following menarche and until becoming post-menopausal unless permanently sterile. Permanent sterilisation methods include hysterectomy, bilateral salpingectomy and bilateral oophorectomy. A postmenopausal state is defined as no menses for 12 months without an alternative medical cause.
  • Other primary causes of shock (e.g. suspected cardiogenic shock, haemorrhagic shock, etc)
  • History or evidence of any other medical, neurological or psychological condition that would expose the subject to an undue risk of a significant Adverse Effect as determined by the clinical judgement of the investigator
  • Participation in other clinical trials of investigational medicinal products

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (25)

Aintree University Hospital

Aintree, United Kingdom

RECRUITING

Royal Blackburn Hospital

Blackburn, United Kingdom

TERMINATED

Fairfield General Hospital

Bury, United Kingdom

RECRUITING

Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge

Cambridge, United Kingdom

RECRUITING

Royal Derby Hospital

Derby, United Kingdom

RECRUITING

Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

RECRUITING

Victoria Hospital

Fife Keith, United Kingdom

RECRUITING

Glasgow Royal Infirmary

Glasgow, United Kingdom

RECRUITING

Queen Elizabeth University Hospital

Glasgow, United Kingdom

RECRUITING

Hull Royal Infirmary

Hull, United Kingdom

RECRUITING

Kettering General

Kettering, United Kingdom

RECRUITING

University Hospital Crosshouse

Kilmarnock, United Kingdom

TERMINATED

University Hospital Monklands

Lanark, United Kingdom

RECRUITING

Leicester Royal Infirmary

Leicester, United Kingdom

TERMINATED

Royal Liverpool University Hospital

Liverpool, United Kingdom

RECRUITING

Newham University Hospital

London, United Kingdom

RECRUITING

Royal London Hospital

London, United Kingdom

RECRUITING

St George's

London, United Kingdom

TERMINATED

University Hospital Lewisham

London, United Kingdom

RECRUITING

John Radcliffe Hospital

Oxford, United Kingdom

RECRUITING

Royal Alexandra Hospital

Paisley, United Kingdom

RECRUITING

Peterborough City Hospital

Peterborough, United Kingdom

RECRUITING

Royal Berkshire Hospital

Reading, United Kingdom

RECRUITING

Queens Hospital Barking

Romford, United Kingdom

RECRUITING

Salford Royal

Salford, United Kingdom

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Sepsis

Interventions

Norepinephrine

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

InfectionsSystemic Inflammatory Response SyndromeInflammationPathologic ProcessesPathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

EthanolaminesAmino AlcoholsAlcoholsOrganic ChemicalsAminesBiogenic MonoaminesBiogenic AminesCatecholaminesCatecholsPhenolsBenzene DerivativesHydrocarbons, AromaticHydrocarbons, CyclicHydrocarbons

Central Study Contacts

Alasdair Corfield

CONTACT

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
phase 3
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Model Details: Open label, two arm, multicentre, pragmatic parallel group randomised trial with an internal pilot
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

November 11, 2021

First Posted

January 5, 2022

Study Start

October 11, 2022

Primary Completion (Estimated)

November 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

October 1, 2027

Last Updated

February 12, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

to be confirmed

Locations