NCT07141355

Empagliflozin's Microcirculatory Effects in Cardiogenic Shock: an Ancillary Pilot Study of the EMPASHOCK Trial

Microcirculatory Effects of Empagliflozin in Patients With Cardiogenic Shock: an Ancillary Pilot Study of the EMPASHOCK Trial

• Status: Active Not Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 24 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University Hospital, Strasbourg, France · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Despite advancements in treatment, the mortality rate for cardiogenic shock (CS) remains high at around 50%. The EMPULSE-HF trial showed that early introduction of empagliflozin in stabilized patients with acute heart failure led to a composite benefit in mortality, rehospitalization, and quality of life. Growing evidence suggests that cardiogenic shock isn't just a problem of systemic macrocirculation (blood pressure, cardiac output). It also involves significant abnormalities in the systemic microcirculation. In fact, these microcirculatory parameters have proven to be better predictors of patient outcomes than traditional macrocirculatory measures. Given its known vasculo-protective effects on the endothelium, empagliflozin may have a beneficial impact on the microcirculation, potentially explaining its positive effects in cardiogenic shock. This study will explore this hypothesis by analyzing the microcirculation in real-time using the CytoCam-IDF imaging videomicroscope and its MicroTools software. The goal is to gain a deeper understanding of how empagliflozin affects the microcirculation during cardiogenic shock.

Detailed description

This ancillary pilot study, conducted in an ICU, investigates the real-time microcirculatory effects of empagliflozin in patients with cardiogenic shock (CS). The study aims to determine if the drug improves microcirculation, which is a known predictor of patient outcomes in CS. Upon a patient's inclusion in the main EMPASHOCK trial, consent for this ancillary study is obtained from the patient's family, with direct patient consent sought later if their condition improves. The study involves two data collection points: Baseline (H0): Before empagliflozin administration, a videomicroscope is used to capture sublingual microcirculation images. These images are analyzed using MicroTools software to measure key microcirculatory parameters. Standard macrocirculatory parameters (blood pressure, cardiac output) are also recorded. 48 Hours (H48): The same microcirculatory and macrocirculatory data are collected again to assess changes following treatment. For patients in the non-empagliflozin group, assessment will be perform at inclusion (H0) and at H48. The study's primary outcomes are the changes in these parameters over 48 hours, along with the patient's survival status at day 28.

Conditions

• Cardiogenic Shock

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DIAGNOSTIC_TEST	microcirculation using the video microscopy tool.	The study intervention is the assessment of microcirculation using the video microscopy tool. This study's primary purpose is to perform this specific diagnostic procedure-measuring microcirculatory parameters with the CytoCam-IDF device-at two distinct time points: at inclusion (H0) and again 48 hours later (H48). The administration of empagliflozin (or not), which is pa and 48 hours after initiating empagliflozin treatment, microcirculatory data will be collected using a videomicroscope. A camera, roughly the size of a large pen, is placed under the patient's tongue for a few seconds to acquire images of the sublingual microcirculation. The entire image acquisition process takes less than 5 minutes and is unaffected by whether the patient is intubated. Images are then analyzed in real-time by the MicroTools software, which calculates key microcirculatory parameters. All anonymized images are stored on a dedicated, password-protected computer accessible only to the investigators.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-07-01
• Primary completion: 2027-08-31
• Completion: 2027-09-30
• First posted: 2025-08-26
• Last updated: 2025-08-26

Locations

1 site across 1 country: France