Acetylsalicylic Acid in the Prevention of Severe SARS-CoV2 Pneumonia in Hospitalised Patients With COVID-19 (Asperum)

Multicenter Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Clinical Trial of Acetylsalicylic Acid in the Prevention of Severe SARS-CoV2 Pneumonia in Hospitalised Patients (Asperum)

Inflammatory diseases favour the onset of venous thromboembolic events in hospitalized patients. Thromboprophylaxis with a fixed dose of heparin/low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) is recommended if concomitant inflammatory disease. In severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) pneumonia an inflammation-dependent thrombotic process occurs and platelet activation may promote thrombosis and amplify inflammation, as indicated by previous experimental evidence, and the similarities with atherothrombosis and thrombotic microangiopathies. Antiplatelet agents represent the cornerstone in the prevention and treatment of atherosclerotic arterial thromboembolism, with limited efficacy in the context of venous thromboembolism. The use of acetylsalicylic acid may improve inflammation and respiratory function in humans as indicated by the results of observational studies. There are no validated protocols for thrombosis prevention in Covid-19. There is scientific rationale to consider acetylsalicylic acid for the prevention of thrombosis in the pulmonary circulation and attenuation of inflammation. This is supported by numerous demonstrations of the anti-inflammatory activity of antiplatelet agents and the evidence of improvement in respiratory function both in human and experimental pathology. The hypothesis underlying the present study project is that in Covid-19 platelet activation occurs through an inflammation-dependent mechanism and that early antithrombotic prophylaxis in non-critical patients could reduce the incidence of pulmonary thrombosis and respiratory and multi-organ failure improving clinical outcome in patients with SARS-CoV2 pneumonia. The prevention of thrombogenic platelet activity with acetylsalicylic acid could be superior to fixed dose enoxaparin alone. The proposed treatment is feasible in all coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, regardless of the treatment regimen (antivirals, anti-inflammatory drugs), except for specific contraindications. To this aim, the investigators a randomised, placebo-controlled, double blind, parallel arms study to investigate the potential protection of acetylsalicylic acid towards the progression of lung failure in patients admitted to a medical ward for SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. A 15-day treatment period is considered. Primary endpoint is the occurrence of one of the following events: admission to an intensive care unit, requirement of mechanical ventilation, PaO2/FiO2 less than 150 mm Hg.

Study Overview

Status

Unknown

Detailed Description

Severe respiratory failure and multi-organ damage in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients have not a unitary pathophysiological interpretation. There is evidence of an association between the clinical entity of the disease and its severity with the plasma levels of D-dimer and inflammatory indexes. On the basis of retrospective investigations there is accumulating evidence of alterations in the haemostatic parameters that with increased D-dimer values, increased coagulation time and platelets may be predictors of worse prognosis. A systematic survey conducted in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Centre of the AOUI Verona, as part of the Database and Study on the role of platelets in the clinical manifestations of COVID-19 (Ethics Committee CESC Verona and Rovigo approved) revealed by means of computerized tomography (CT) angiograph in patients with a persistent respiratory deficit and very high D-dimer values mainly multiple, bilateral vascular occlusions involving the segmental and subsegmental branches of the pulmonary arteries. This finding is suggestive of a frequent and clinically relevant thrombotic process in a appreciable number (approximately 20%) of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia hospitalized in medical wards. It is a well-established clinical notion that acute and chronic inflammatory diseases may favour the onset of venous thromboembolic events in hospitalized patients. Thromboprophylaxis with a fixed dose of heparin/low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) is recommended for medical patient with concomitant neoplasia or inflammatory disease. It is conceivable that under conditions, such as SARS-CoV2 pneumonia, an inflammation-dependent thrombotic process takes place and that platelet activation may play a pathogenic role both in the thrombotic process and in the amplification of the inflammatory process. In fact, there is experimental evidence that platelet activation in inflammation would lead to accelerated coagulation and a thrombotic vascular occlusion, with similarities to what is widely documented in atherothrombosis and thrombotic microangiopathies. The administration of antiplatelet drugs represents the cornerstone for the prevention and treatment of arterial thromboembolism in atherosclerotic disease and has also shown some limited efficacy also in the context of venous and arterial thromboembolism associated with atrial fibrillation. The use of acetylsalicylic acid may improve inflammation and respiratory function in humans as indicated by the results of observational studies. There are currently no validated protocols for thrombosis prevention in the field of pulmonary viral diseases, in particular COVID-19. There is scientific rationale to consider acetylsalicylic acid for the prevention of thrombosis in the pulmonary circulation and attenuation of inflammation. This is supported by numerous demonstrations of the anti-inflammatory activity of antiplatelet agents and the evidence of improvement in respiratory function both in human and experimental pathology. A retrospective observational study showed that patients with COVID-19 pneumonia treated with acetyl salicylic acid had a lower incidence of progression to respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation, without evidence of increased incidence of bleeding complications. The hypothesis underlying the present study project is that in Covid-19 platelet activation occurs via an inflammation-dependent mechanism and that early antithrombotic prophylaxis in non-critical patients, like those admitted to medical wards, could reduce the incidence of pulmonary thrombosis as well as respiratory and multi-organ failure, contributing to improve clinical outcome of the patients with pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV2 viruses. The anticoagulant activity exerted by a fixed dose of enoxaparin (4000U/day), recommended in patients with the described clinical features, according to a note of the "Italian Medicines Agency" (AIFA), together with the prevention of thrombogenic activity of platelets by acetylsalicylic acid could prevent aggravation of COVID-19 patients to a greater extent than enoxaparin alone given at the same dose. Early initiation of treatment should mitigate the presentation of pneumonia. The proposed treatment is feasible in all coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, regardless of the treatment regimen (antivirals, anti-inflammatory drugs), except for specific contraindications. To this aim, it was designed a randomised, placebo-controlled, double blind, parallel arms study to investigate the potential protection of acetylsalicylic acid towards the progression of lung failure in patients admitted to a medical ward for SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. A 15-day treatment period is considered. Primary endpoint is the occurrence of one of the following events: admission to an intensive care unit, requirement of mechanical ventilation, PaO2/FiO2 less than 150 mm Hg.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Anticipated)

204

Phase

  • Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

      • Verona, Italy, 37126
        • Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata Verona

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 99 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • in a medical area ward dedicated to Covid-19 patients
  • Positivity by RT_PCR of the search for genetic material of SARS-CoV2
  • Covid-19 pneumonia with moderate clinical picture based on clinical parameters
  • O2 saturation> 94% with maximum FiO2 32%
  • Respiratory acts <30 / minute
  • age >18 years
  • Consent to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Any Antithrombotic treatment including acetylsalicylic acid
  • Active Bacterial infection
  • Active or in maintenance therapy neoplasm
  • Inability to provide consent
  • Any contraindication to the acetylsalicylic acid use
  • Active peptic disease
  • Active Major pathological bleeding
  • Recent (<30 days) major bleeding
  • Recent intracranial bleeding
  • Need to use therapeutic doses of oral anticoagulants or heparins
  • Need to use combination antiplatelet drugs for clinical indication
  • Hypersensitivity to acetylsalicylic acid or to any of the excipients
  • Hypersensitivity to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
  • Severe hepatic insufficiency (Child-Pugh class C).
  • Severe heart failure (NYHA class 3-4)
  • Platelet count less than 150000 / mmc
  • Haemostasis alteration (INR> 1.5, APTT> 1.5)
  • Plasma fibrinogen <100 mg / dL
  • Blood pressure >160/100 mmHg
  • Concomitant treatment with serotonin reuptake inhibitors
  • Participation in another pharmacological clinical trial

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Quadruple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Acetylsalicylic acid
Tablets of 100 mg acetylsalicylic acid (one 100 mg daily dose. On the first day a loading dose of 300 mg will be administered)
administration of one tablet daily for 15 days. On the first day a loading dose of 300 mg will be administered
Placebo Comparator: Placebo
Tablets of placebo, identical to active comparator (one tablet daily dose. On the first day 3 tablets will be administered)
administration of one tablet daily for 15 days. On the first day 3 tablets will be administered

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Prevention of clinical worsening
Time Frame: day 15
Transfer to ICU
day 15
Prevention of lung function worsening
Time Frame: day 15
PaO2/FiO2 lower than 150 mm Hg
day 15
Prevention of death
Time Frame: day 15
Death for any cause
day 15

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in body temperature
Time Frame: Daily for 15 days
Body temperature
Daily for 15 days
Change in oxygen saturation
Time Frame: Daily for 15 days
Oxygen saturation
Daily for 15 days
Change in blood gases
Time Frame: Daily for 15 days
blood gas analysis
Daily for 15 days
Change in blood cell count
Time Frame: Daily for 15 days
blood cell count
Daily for 15 days
Change in blood oxygen
Time Frame: Daily for 15 days
Oxygen administration when O2 saturation <92%
Daily for 15 days
Change in clinical markers of lung function
Time Frame: Daily for 15 days
PaO2/FiO2; progression of disease at Rx
Daily for 15 days
Change in clinical markers of liver damage
Time Frame: Daily for 15 days
markers of organ damage (ALT)
Daily for 15 days
Change in clinical markers of hearth damage
Time Frame: Daily for 15 days
markers of organ damage (troponin)
Daily for 15 days
Change in clinical markers of renal damage
Time Frame: Daily for 15 days
markers of organ damage (creatinine)
Daily for 15 days
Effects on blood cell count
Time Frame: Baseline, day 1, 2, 7 and 15.
Inflammatory markers (blood cell count)
Baseline, day 1, 2, 7 and 15.
Effects on CRP
Time Frame: Baseline, day 1, 2, 7 and 15.
Inflammatory markers (CRP)
Baseline, day 1, 2, 7 and 15.
Effects on D-dimer
Time Frame: Baseline, day 1, 2, 7 and 15.
Inflammatory markers (D-dimer)
Baseline, day 1, 2, 7 and 15.
Effects on interleukin-1
Time Frame: Baseline, day 1, 2, 7 and 15.
Inflammatory markers ( IL-1)
Baseline, day 1, 2, 7 and 15.
Effects on interleukin-6
Time Frame: Baseline, day 1, 2, 7 and 15.
Inflammatory markers (IL-6)
Baseline, day 1, 2, 7 and 15.
Effects on fibrinogen
Time Frame: Baseline, day 1, 2, 7 and 15.
Inflammatory markers (fibrinogen)
Baseline, day 1, 2, 7 and 15.
Effects on plasma albumin
Time Frame: Baseline, day 1, 2, 7 and 15.
Inflammatory markers (albumin)
Baseline, day 1, 2, 7 and 15.
Effects on protrombin time
Time Frame: Baseline, day 1, 2, 7 and 15.
platelet and hemostatic markets (prothrombin time)
Baseline, day 1, 2, 7 and 15.
Effects on activated partial thromboplastin time
Time Frame: Baseline, day 1, 2, 7 and 15.
platelet and hemostatic markets (activated partial thromboplastin time)
Baseline, day 1, 2, 7 and 15.
Effects on serum thromboxane
Time Frame: Baseline, day 1, 2, 7 and 15.
platelet and hemostatic markets ( serum TxB2)
Baseline, day 1, 2, 7 and 15.
Effects on thromboxane metabolite
Time Frame: Baseline, day 1, 2, 7 and 15.
platelet and hemostatic markets (urinary 11-dehydro TXB2)
Baseline, day 1, 2, 7 and 15.
Effects on platelet count
Time Frame: Baseline, day 1, 2, 7 and 15.
platelet and hemostatic markets (platelet count)
Baseline, day 1, 2, 7 and 15.
Effects on reticulated platelets
Time Frame: Baseline, day 1, 2, 7 and 15.
platelet and hemostatic markets (reticulated platelets)
Baseline, day 1, 2, 7 and 15.
Effects on platelet/leukocyte conjugates
Time Frame: Baseline, day 1, 2, 7 and 15.
platelet and hemostatic markets (platelets/leukocytes conjugates)
Baseline, day 1, 2, 7 and 15.
Effects on plasma P-selectin
Time Frame: Baseline, day 1, 2, 7 and 15.
platelet and hemostatic markets (plasma P-selectin)
Baseline, day 1, 2, 7 and 15.
Effects on P-selectin expression
Time Frame: Baseline, day 1, 2, 7 and 15.
platelet and hemostatic markets (platelet expression of P-selectin)
Baseline, day 1, 2, 7 and 15.
Clincal mixed outcome of lung function, ROX score
Time Frame: Days 7 and 15
ROX score
Days 7 and 15
Clincal mixed outcome of lung function, SOfa score
Time Frame: Days 7 and 15
SOfa score
Days 7 and 15
Clincal mixed outcome of lung function, Apache index
Time Frame: Days 7 and 15
Apache index
Days 7 and 15
Clincal mixed outcome of lung function, need to perform CT scan due to worsening of blood gases
Time Frame: Days 7 and 15
need to perform CT scan due to worsening of blood gases
Days 7 and 15
Clincal mixed outcome of lung function, need to transfer the patient to ICU
Time Frame: Days 7 and 15
need to transfer the patient to ICU
Days 7 and 15
Clincal mixed outcome of lung function, need for mechanical ventilation
Time Frame: Days 7 and 15
need for mechanical ventilation
Days 7 and 15
Clincal mixed outcome of lung function, days without need of mechanical ventilation
Time Frame: Days 7 and 15
days without need of mechanical ventilation
Days 7 and 15
Clincal mixed outcome of lung function, venous thromboembolism
Time Frame: Days 7 and 15
venous thromboembolism
Days 7 and 15
Clincal mixed outcome of lung function, pulmonary thrombosis
Time Frame: Days 7 and 15
pulmonary thrombosis
Days 7 and 15
Clincal mixed outcome of lung function, cardiovascular event
Time Frame: Days 7 and 15
cardiovascular event
Days 7 and 15
Clincal mixed outcome of lung function, death
Time Frame: Days 7 and 15
death
Days 7 and 15
Clincal mixed outcome of lung function, multiorgan failure
Time Frame: Days 7 and 15
multiorgan failure
Days 7 and 15
Clincal mixed outcome of lung function, discharge due to resolution of signs and symptoms
Time Frame: Days 7 and 15
discharge due to resolution of signs and symptoms
Days 7 and 15
Safety outcomes, Major or clinically relevant bleeding
Time Frame: days 1,2,7 and 15
Major or clinically relevant bleeding
days 1,2,7 and 15
Safety outcomes, total bleeding based on ISTH bleeding score
Time Frame: days 1,2,7 and 15
total bleeding based on ISTH bleeding score
days 1,2,7 and 15
Safety outcomes, minor bleeding according to ISTH BS
Time Frame: days 1,2,7 and 15
minor bleeding according to ISTH BS
days 1,2,7 and 15
Safety outcomes, decrease in platelet count below 100x109/L
Time Frame: days 1,2,7 and 15
decrease in platelet count below 100x109/L
days 1,2,7 and 15
Safety outcomes, decrease of al least 2 g/dl Hb levels
Time Frame: days 1,2,7 and 15
decrease of al least 2 g/dl Hb levels
days 1,2,7 and 15
Safety outcomes, need for blood transfusion
Time Frame: days 1,2,7 and 15
need for blood transfusion
days 1,2,7 and 15
Safety outcomes, alterations of clinical or laboratory parameters
Time Frame: days 1,2,7 and 15
alterations of clinical or laboratory parameters
days 1,2,7 and 15

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Investigators

  • Study Director: Pietro Minuz, Professor, University of Verona, AOUI Verona
  • Study Director: Marco Cattaneo, Professor, University of Milan
  • Study Director: Roberto Leone, Professor, Universita di Verona

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Anticipated)

April 1, 2021

Primary Completion (Anticipated)

July 1, 2021

Study Completion (Anticipated)

August 31, 2021

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 15, 2021

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 19, 2021

First Posted (Actual)

March 22, 2021

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 22, 2021

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 19, 2021

Last Verified

March 1, 2021

More Information

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Clinical Trials on COVID-19

Clinical Trials on Acetylsalicylic acid

Subscribe