NCT01648036

Heparin Anticoagulation to Improve Outcomes in Septic Shock: The HALO Pilot

• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 76 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Manitoba · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Life-threatening infections account for 10% of all intensive care unit admissions and constitute the second more frequent cause of death in the ICU after heart diseases. The most common cause of death in patients admitted with life-threatening infections is multi-organ failure that is mediated by severe inflammation. Given the relationship between inflammation and blood clotting, blood-thinners (also called anticoagulants) have been used to decrease inflammation and the formation of small clots. Several lines of evidence suggest that heparin, a proven and inexpensive blood-thinner, may reduce improve survival in patients diagnosed with life-threatening infection. The primary objective of this study is to demonstrate the feasibility of enrolling patients in a large randomized controlled trial investigating heparin in patients with severe infections. In this study, patients with life-threatening infections will have an equal chance of receiving an intravenous infusion of heparin, or a low dose of a similar drug to prevent of blood clots while patients are immobile. The primary purpose of the study is to demonstrate that an average of 2 patients per site, per month, can be enrolled. Other measures of feasibility include the consent rate, the number of protocol violations that occur during the trial, and the number of dose reductions needed due to excessive anticoagulation. To study the biologic effects of heparin in patients with severe infection, specific laboratory markers will be measured and analyzed. If the feasibility of the trial is confirmed, a large randomized trial designed to tell if heparin can safely improve survival will be conducted. Given its low cost and availability, if heparin is shown to improve survival in patients with severe infection, adoption of this therapy on a global scale is anticipated.

Conditions

• Septic Shock

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	Unfractionated heparin	Dose: 18 IU/kg/hr, continuous intravenous infusion. Duration: up to 7 days or until ICU discharge or death
DRUG	Dalteparin	Dose 5000 IU, subcutaneous, daily

Timeline

• Start date: 2012-07-01
• Primary completion: 2014-01-01
• Completion: 2014-02-01
• First posted: 2012-07-24
• Last updated: 2014-07-10

Locations

9 sites across 1 country: Canada