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Dexamethasone Treatment for Sepsis-associated Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: a Multicenter, Randomised, Double-blinded, Controlled Trial (DEFEND)

31 agosto 2026 aggiornato da: Jianfeng Xie, Southeast University, China

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a major cause of acute hypoxemic respiratory failure in critically ill patients and is associated with substantial mortality. Current management is largely supportive, and no pharmacologic therapy has been shown consistently to reduce mortality in a broad population of patients with ARDS. Inflammation plays a central role in the pathogenesis of ARDS. Excessive inflammatory activation contributes to alveolar-capillary injury, impaired gas exchange, and progression of organ dysfunction. Glucocorticoids may mitigate these processes and have been associated in some studies with improved clinical outcomes, including shorter duration of mechanical ventilation. However, the effect of glucocorticoids on survival remains uncertain.

ARDS is a heterogeneous syndrome with diverse etiologies, and treatment response may vary according to the underlying cause. A post hoc analysis of the Dex-ARDS trial suggested that the treatment effect of glucocorticoids may be greater in ARDS caused by pneumonia or extrapulmonary sepsis. In a cross-sectional survey of 135 patients with ARDS from 20 ICUs in China, pneumonia- and extrapulmonary sepsis-associated ARDS accounted for 77.6% of cases, indicating that these are the predominant etiologic subtypes encountered in clinical practice in China. More importantly, compared with ARDS attributable to other causes, pneumonia- and extrapulmonary sepsis-associated ARDS has been associated with higher mortality, suggesting a greater disease burden, worse prognosis, and a more urgent need for improved treatment strategies. On this basis, the present trial will enroll patients with ARDS caused by sepsis, including pneumonia and extrapulmonary sepsis.

The primary hypothesis of this study is that, among patients with sepsis-associated ARDS, dexamethasone plus usual care, as compared with placebo plus usual care, will reduce 90-day all-cause mortality. We therefore designed a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial to evaluate the clinical efficacy of dexamethasone in patients with sepsis-associated ARDS. The primary objective is to compare dexamethasone plus usual care with placebo plus usual care with respect to 90-day all-cause mortality.

Panoramica dello studio

Tipo di studio

Interventistico

Iscrizione (Stimato)

1704

Fase

  • Fase 3

Contatti e Sedi

Questa sezione fornisce i recapiti di coloro che conducono lo studio e informazioni su dove viene condotto lo studio.

Contatto studio

Luoghi di studio

      • Nanjing, Cina
        • Reclutamento
        • Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University
        • Contatto:
    • Jiangsu
      • Nanjing, Jiangsu, Cina, 210009
        • Non ancora reclutamento
        • Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University
        • Contatto:

Criteri di partecipazione

I ricercatori cercano persone che corrispondano a una certa descrizione, chiamata criteri di ammissibilità. Alcuni esempi di questi criteri sono le condizioni generali di salute di una persona o trattamenti precedenti.

Criteri di ammissibilità

Età idonea allo studio

  • Bambino
  • Adulto
  • Adulto più anziano

Accetta volontari sani

No

Descrizione

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Age 18 years or older
  2. Suspected or confirmed infection
  3. Receipt of invasive mechanical ventilation with a positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) of at least 5 cm H₂O, noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation with a PEEP of at least 5 cm H₂O, or high-flow nasal oxygen therapy with a flow rate of at least 30 L/min
  4. Acute-onset ARDS, defined as ARDS diagnosed for at least 6 hours but no more than 72 hours, according to the following criteria:

(1) New or worsening respiratory symptoms or respiratory failure (2) Pulmonary infiltrates on chest radiography or computed tomography, or B-lines or consolidation on lung ultrasonography, not fully explained by pleural effusion, lobar or whole-lung collapse or atelectasis, or pulmonary nodules. Patients with unilateral pulmonary infiltrates, B-lines, or consolidation are eligible (3) Respiratory failure not fully explained by cardiac failure or fluid overload (4) Hypoxemia defined as PaO₂/FiO₂ of 300 mm Hg or less, or SpO₂/FiO₂ of 315 or less, with SpO₂ no greater than 97%.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Pregnancy
  2. Planned withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment within the next 24 hours
  3. Current hospitalization for more than 7 days before screening;
  4. Clinical improvement within the 48 hours before randomization, based on the investigator's overall assessment
  5. Highly suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection
  6. Severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, defined as a PaCO₂ ≥ 60 mmHg in a stable condition, or the need for long-term oxygen therapy, excluding CPAP/BiPAP prescribed exclusively for sleep-disordered breathing.
  7. Congestive heart failure (NYHA III-IV)
  8. A definite clinical indication for high-dose corticosteroids at screening, defined as a maximum daily dose exceeding hydrocortisone 200 mg or an equivalent glucocorticoid dose
  9. Contraindications to short-term dexamethasone, including untreated systemic fungal infection, active tuberculosis, active viral hepatitis, or major upper gastrointestinal bleeding
  10. Known hypersensitivity to dexamethasone
  11. Participation in another interventional clinical trial within the previous 30 days

Piano di studio

Questa sezione fornisce i dettagli del piano di studio, compreso il modo in cui lo studio è progettato e ciò che lo studio sta misurando.

Come è strutturato lo studio?

Dettagli di progettazione

  • Scopo principale: Trattamento
  • Assegnazione: Randomizzato
  • Modello interventistico: Assegnazione parallela
  • Mascheramento: Quadruplicare

Armi e interventi

Gruppo di partecipanti / Arm
Intervento / Trattamento
Sperimentale: Dexamethasone Group
Dexamethasone plus usual care
Participants assigned to dexamethasone will receive 20 mg intravenously as soon as possible after randomization. Beginning after 10:00 am on the next calendar day following randomization, dexamethasone 20 mg will be administered once daily through day 5, followed by dexamethasone 10 mg once daily from Day 6 to Day 10.
Altri nomi:
  • Dexamethasone sodium phosphate injection, 5 mg/1 mL
Comparatore placebo: Placebo Group
Placebo plus usual care
Participants assigned to the placebo group will receive 0.9% sodium chloride injection as matching placebo, administered according to the same schedule as dexamethasone

Cosa sta misurando lo studio?

Misure di risultato primarie

Misura del risultato
Misura Descrizione
Lasso di tempo
90-day all-cause mortality
Lasso di tempo: From randomization (day 0) to day 90 (inclusive)
The proportion of participants who die from any cause between randomization (day 0) and day 90 (inclusive)
From randomization (day 0) to day 90 (inclusive)

Misure di risultato secondarie

Misura del risultato
Misura Descrizione
Lasso di tempo
Ventilator-free days through day 28
Lasso di tempo: From randomization (day 0) to day 28 (inclusive)
The number of days from randomization (day 0) to day 28 (inclusive) during which the patient is alive and successfully liberated from invasive mechanical ventilation
From randomization (day 0) to day 28 (inclusive)
Vasopressor-free days through day 28
Lasso di tempo: From randomization (day 0) to day 28 (inclusive)
The number of days from randomization (day 0) to day 28 (inclusive) during which the patient is alive and successfully discontinued from vasopressor therapy
From randomization (day 0) to day 28 (inclusive)
Renal replacement therapy-free days through day 28
Lasso di tempo: From randomization (day 0) to day 28 (inclusive)
The number of days from randomization (day 0) to day 28 (inclusive) during which the patient is alive and does not require renal replacement therapy
From randomization (day 0) to day 28 (inclusive)
28-day all-cause mortality
Lasso di tempo: From randomization (day 0) to day 28 (inclusive)
The proportion of participants who die from any cause between randomization (day 0) and day 28 (inclusive)
From randomization (day 0) to day 28 (inclusive)
In-hospital mortality
Lasso di tempo: Time Frame: From randomization (day 0) up to hospital discharge, assessed up to 90 days
The proportion of participants who die from any cause between randomization (day 0) and hospital discharge (inclusive). If a patient remains hospitalized for more than 90 days, 90-day mortality will be used as in-hospital mortality
Time Frame: From randomization (day 0) up to hospital discharge, assessed up to 90 days
6-month all-cause mortality
Lasso di tempo: From randomization (day 0) to 6 months (inclusive)
The proportion of participants who die from any cause between randomization (day 0) and 6 months (inclusive)
From randomization (day 0) to 6 months (inclusive)
12-month all-cause mortality
Lasso di tempo: From randomization(day 0) to 12 months
The proportion of participants who die from any cause between randomization (day 0) and 12 months
From randomization(day 0) to 12 months
Decision to withhold or withdraw active treatment during hospitalization
Lasso di tempo: Time Frame: From randomization (day 0) up to hospital discharge, assessed up to 90 days
The proportion of participants in whom active treatment is withheld or withdrawn between randomization (day 0) and hospital discharge (inclusive)
Time Frame: From randomization (day 0) up to hospital discharge, assessed up to 90 days
Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status-Modified (TICS-m)
Lasso di tempo: 90 days, 6 months and 12 months after randomization
Cognitive status was assessed using a Chinese modified version of the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status-modified (TICS-m). Higher scores indicate better cognitive performance
90 days, 6 months and 12 months after randomization
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Lasso di tempo: 90 days, 6 months and 12 months after randomization
Psychological outcomes will be assessed with the Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C, Chinese version). Respondents indicate how much they have been bothered by a symptom over the past month using a 5-point scale, with higher scores indicating more severe levels of PTSD.
90 days, 6 months and 12 months after randomization
Health-related quality of life (EQ-5D-5L)
Lasso di tempo: 90 days, 6 months and 12 months after randomization
Health-related quality of life assessed using the EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level (EQ-5D-5L) instrument at 90 days, 6months and 12 months after randomization. The EQ-5D-5L measures health across five dimensions: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression.
90 days, 6 months and 12 months after randomization
Functional Activities Questionnaire (FAQ)
Lasso di tempo: 90 days, 6 months, 12 months after randomization
Caregiver-reported outcome, higher scores indicating worse impairment.
90 days, 6 months, 12 months after randomization
Activities of daily living (ADL) score
Lasso di tempo: 90 days, 6 months, 12 months after randomization
Assessed using the Barthel Index, including feeding, bathing, grooming, dressing, bowel control, bladder control, toileting, chair/bed transfer, ambulation, and stair climbing, higher scores indicate greater independence.
90 days, 6 months, 12 months after randomization
Hospital-free days through day 90
Lasso di tempo: From randomization (day 0) to day 90 (inclusive)
The number of days from randomization (day 0) to day 90 (inclusive) during which the patient is alive and does not require hospitalization
From randomization (day 0) to day 90 (inclusive)

Altre misure di risultato

Misura del risultato
Misura Descrizione
Lasso di tempo
Incidence of weaning success through day 28
Lasso di tempo: From randomization (day 0) to day 28 (inclusive)

For intubated patients, successful weaning was defined as survival without reintubation within 7 days after extubation, or liberation from invasive mechanical ventilation with ICU discharge within 7 days.

For tracheostomized patients, successful weaning was defined as spontaneous breathing via tracheostomy without mechanical ventilation for at least 7 consecutive days, or liberation from invasive mechanical ventilation with ICU discharge within 7 days.

Reintubation for diagnostic purposes (e.g., bronchoscopy) or planned surgical procedures (e.g., wound debridement, abdominal lavage, internal fixation of fractures, tracheostomy) was not considered weaning failure.

From randomization (day 0) to day 28 (inclusive)
Incidence of gastrointestinal bleeding through day 28
Lasso di tempo: From randomization (day 0) to day 28 (inclusive)
The proportion of participants who developed acute gastrointestinal bleeding requiring transfusion of more than 1 unit of packed red blood cells within 24 hours
From randomization (day 0) to day 28 (inclusive)
Incidence of secondary bloodstream infection through day 28
Lasso di tempo: From randomization (day 0) to day 28 (inclusive)
The proportion of participants who developed secondary bloodstream infection through day 28
From randomization (day 0) to day 28 (inclusive)
Incidence of VAP through day 28
Lasso di tempo: From randomization (day 0) to day 28 (inclusive)
The proportion of participants who developed ventilator-associated pneumonia through day 28
From randomization (day 0) to day 28 (inclusive)
Incidence of hyperglycemia events through day 28
Lasso di tempo: From randomization (day 0) to day 28 (inclusive)
The proportion of participants who had hyperglycemia events (blood glucose level >180 mg/dl) through day 28
From randomization (day 0) to day 28 (inclusive)

Collaboratori e investigatori

Qui è dove troverai le persone e le organizzazioni coinvolte in questo studio.

Investigatori

  • Investigatore principale: Jianfeng Xie, MD, Southeast University, Zhongda Hospital

Pubblicazioni e link utili

La persona responsabile dell'inserimento delle informazioni sullo studio fornisce volontariamente queste pubblicazioni. Questi possono riguardare qualsiasi cosa relativa allo studio.

Pubblicazioni generali

  • [1] MATTHAY M A, ARABI Y, ARROLIGA A C, et al. A New Global Definition of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome[J]. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 2024, 209(1): 37-47. [2] BELLANI G, LAFFEY J G, PHAM T, et al. Epidemiology, Patterns of Care, and Mortality for Patients With Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Intensive Care Units in 50 Countries[J]. JAMA, 2016, 315(8): 788. [3] LIU L, YANG Y, GAO Z, et al. Practice of diagnosis and management of acute respiratory distress syndrome in mainland China: a cross-sectional study[J]. Journal of Thoracic Disease, 2018, 10(9): 5394-5404. [4] MATTHAY M A, ZEMANS R L, ZIMMERMAN G A, et al. Acute respiratory distress syndrome[J]. Nature Reviews Disease Primers, 2019, 5(1): 18. [5] MEDURI G U, GOLDEN E, FREIRE A X, et al. Methylprednisolone infusion in early severe ARDS[J]. Chest, 2007, 131(4): 954-963. [6] ANNANE D, SÉBILLE V, BELLISSANT E. Effect of low doses of corticosteroids in septic shock patients with or without early acute respiratory distress syndrome*:[J]. Critical Care Medicine, 2006, 34(1): 22-30. [7] TONGYOO S, PERMPIKUL C, MONGKOLPUN W, et al. Hydrocortisone treatment in early sepsis-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome: Results of a randomized controlled trial[J]. Critical Care, 2016, 20(1): 329. [8] GRASSELLI G, CALFEE C S, CAMPOROTA L, et al. ESICM guidelines on acute respiratory distress syndrome: definition, phenotyping and respiratory support strategies[J]. Intensive Care Medicine, 2023, 49(7): 727-759. [9] VILLAR J, FERRANDO C, MARTÍNEZ D, et al. Dexamethasone treatment for the acute respiratory distress syndrome: A multicentre, randomised controlled trial[J]. The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, 2020, 8(3): 267-276. [10] CHRIGUER R S, ROSELINO A M, DE CASTRO M. Glucocorticoid sensitivity and proinflammatory cytokines pattern in pemphigus[J]. Journal of Clinical Immunology, 2012, 32(4): 786-793.

Studiare le date dei record

Queste date tengono traccia dell'avanzamento della registrazione dello studio e dell'invio dei risultati di sintesi a ClinicalTrials.gov. I record degli studi e i risultati riportati vengono esaminati dalla National Library of Medicine (NLM) per assicurarsi che soddisfino specifici standard di controllo della qualità prima di essere pubblicati sul sito Web pubblico.

Studia le date principali

Inizio studio (Effettivo)

27 agosto 2026

Completamento primario (Stimato)

30 settembre 2029

Completamento dello studio (Stimato)

30 settembre 2030

Date di iscrizione allo studio

Primo inviato

25 aprile 2026

Primo inviato che soddisfa i criteri di controllo qualità

4 maggio 2026

Primo Inserito (Effettivo)

8 maggio 2026

Aggiornamenti dei record di studio

Ultimo aggiornamento pubblicato (Effettivo)

2 settembre 2026

Ultimo aggiornamento inviato che soddisfa i criteri QC

31 agosto 2026

Ultimo verificato

1 giugno 2026

Maggiori informazioni

Termini relativi a questo studio

Piano per i dati dei singoli partecipanti (IPD)

Hai intenzione di condividere i dati dei singoli partecipanti (IPD)?

NO

Informazioni su farmaci e dispositivi, documenti di studio

Studia un prodotto farmaceutico regolamentato dalla FDA degli Stati Uniti

No

Studia un dispositivo regolamentato dalla FDA degli Stati Uniti

No

Queste informazioni sono state recuperate direttamente dal sito web clinicaltrials.gov senza alcuna modifica. In caso di richieste di modifica, rimozione o aggiornamento dei dettagli dello studio, contattare register@clinicaltrials.gov. Non appena verrà implementata una modifica su clinicaltrials.gov, questa verrà aggiornata automaticamente anche sul nostro sito web .

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