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Recombinant human activated protein C in the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome: a randomized clinical trial
Cornet AD, Groeneveld AB, Hofstra JJ, Vlaar AP, Tuinman PR, van Lingen A, Levi M, Girbes AR, Schultz MJ, Beishuizen A
PLoS ONE. 2014;9((3):):e90983.
Abstract
RATIONALE Pulmonary coagulopathy may play a pathogenetic role in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), by contributing to alveolocapillary inflammation and increased permeability. Recombinant human activated protein C (rh-APC) may inhibit this process and thereby improve patient outcome. METHODS A prospective randomized, saline-controlled, single-blinded clinical trial was performed in the intensive care units of two university hospitals, and patients with ARDS were included within 24 h after meeting inclusion criteria. INTERVENTION A 4-day course of intravenous rh-APC (24 mcg/kg/h) (n = 33) versus saline (n = 38). OUTCOMES The primary outcome parameter was the pulmonary leak index (PLI) of 67Gallium-transferrin as a measure of alveolocapillary permeability and secondary outcomes were disease severity scores and ventilator-free days, among others. RESULTS Baseline characteristics were similar; in 87% of patients the PLI was above normal and in 90% mechanical or non-invasive ventilation was instituted at a median lung injury score of 2.5. There was no evidence that Rh-APC treatment affected the PLI or attenuated lung injury and sequential organ failure assessment scores. Mean ventilator-free days amounted to 14 (rh-APC) and 12 days (saline, P = 0.35). 28-day mortality was 6% in rh-APC- and 18% in saline-treated patients (P = 0.12). There was no difference in bleeding events. The study was prematurely discontinued because rh-APC was withdrawn from the market. CONCLUSION There is no evidence that treatment with intravenous rh-APC during 4 days for infectious or inflammatory ARDS ameliorates increased alveolocapillary permeability or the clinical course of ARDS patients. We cannot exclude underpowering. TRIAL REGISTRATION Nederlands Trial Register ISRCTN 52566874.
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Activated protein C does not alleviate the course of systemic inflammation in the APCAP Trial
Kyhala L, Mentula P, Kylanpaa L, Moilanen E, Puolakkainen P, Pettila V, Repo H
International Journal of Inflammation. 2012;2012:712739.
Abstract
The study aimed to determine the effect of the activated protein C on the course of systemic inflammation in the APCAP (activated protein C in acute pancreatitis) trial where we randomized 32 patients with severe acute pancreatitis to receive either recombinant activated protein C (drotrecogin alfa activated) (n = 16) or placebo (n = 16) for 96 hours. In the present study, we present the time course of the patients' plasma or serum levels of soluble markers (IL-8, IL-6, IL-10, IL-1ra, sE-selectin, PCT) and monocyte and neutrophil cell surface (CD11b, CD14, CD62L, HLA-DR) markers of systemic inflammatory response during the first 14 days after the randomization. The results of the intervention and placebo groups were comparable showing that recombinant APC treatment did not alter the course of systemic inflammation in severe acute pancreatitis. Our finding is in accordance with the clinical findings in the APCAP trial indicating that the intervention did not affect evolution of multiple organ dysfunctions.
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APCAP--activated protein C in acute pancreatitis: a double-blind randomized human pilot trial
Pettilä V, Kyhälä L, Kylänpää ML, Leppäniemi A, Tallgren M, Markkola A, Puolakkainen P, Repo H, Kemppainen E
Critical Care (London, England). 2010;14((4):):R139.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Previous human studies have shown low activity of protein C (APC) in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). This, together with the findings in animal models, suggests that activated protein C (APC) may protect against pancreatic injury and ameliorate the disease. We, therefore, evaluated its effect on multiple organ dysfunction (MOD) measured by the SOFA (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment) and on organ-failure-free days, and the safety of APC in SAP. METHODS A prospective double blind randomized pilot study was use. The study occurred in one university hospital tertiary intensive care unit (ICU) with eight beds. The patients were chosen according to the following inclusion criteria: 1) Those admitted to the hospital < 96 h from the onset of pain, 2) Those who had a three-fold increase in serum amylase over normal upper range or/and in whom computed tomography (CT) verification of SAP was noted, 3) Those who had one or more organ dysfunction (OD), and 4) Those in whom less than 48 hours had passed since their first OD. Of a total of 215 adult patients with SAP screened between June 2003 and August 2007, 158 fulfilled the study inclusion criteria. After exclusions 32 patients were randomized to the study. The intervention consisted of APC (N = 16) administered intravenously for 96 hours with a dose of 24 μg/kg/hour or placebo (N = 16) with a similar infusion rate. The sample size for the study was calculated according to the primary end-point: the change in SOFA during study drug infusion (Days 0 and 5). Comparisons between the study groups were performed using patient-related changes and calculation of difference in means (DIM, 95% CIs) and regarding categorical variables with Fisher's exact test. For all comparisons P < 0. 05 was considered significant. RESULTS No serious bleeding was detected clinically or by CT scans in either group. No significant difference in SOFA score change between the APC and placebo groups was found (difference in means (DIM) +2. 3, 95% CI -0. 7 to +5. 3). Treatment with APC was associated with an increase in serum levels of both total and conjugated bilirubin. No differences in ventilator-free days, in renal replacement therapy-free days, in vasopressor-free days, or in days alive outside the hospital were detected. CONCLUSIONS No serious bleeding or differences in the evolution of MOD were detected between APC and the placebo. Instead we found an increase in serum bilirubin in the APC group compared to the placebo group in patients with SAP. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials. gov NCT01017107.
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Effect of activated protein C on plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor activity in patients with acute myocardial infarction treated with alteplase: comparison with unfractionated heparin
Sakamoto T, Ogawa H, Takazoe K, Yoshimura M, Shimomura H, Moriyama Y, Arai H, Okajima K
Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2003;42((8):):1389-94.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We examined whether activated protein C (APC) is an effective conjunctive therapy to thrombolysis in patients with ST-segment-elevated acute myocardial infarction (AMl). BACKGROUND Activated protein C possesses both systemic anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory properties. It has been also shown to enhance fibrinolysis by inhibiting plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) activity in vitro. METHODS After successful thrombolysis with alteplase, study patients were assigned to receive one of the two conjunctive therapies for 48 h intravenously: human plasma-derived APC at 0. 06 mg/kg per day (APC group, n = 9) or unfractionated heparin at 100 to 400 U/kg per day, adjusted to maintain an activated partial thromboplastin time at 1. 5 to 2 times of the control level (heparin group, n = 10). RESULTS Adverse events, including reocclusion of the recanalized infarct-related coronary artery and major or minor hemorrhagic complications, occurred more frequently in the heparin group (4 of 10 cases) than in the APC group (none of 9 cases) (p = 0. 033). In the heparin group, plasma PAI activity (IU/ml, median value [range]) was increased continuously from 8 to 24 h after thrombolysis and peaked at 24 h (30. 9 [11. 3 to 38. 5]); on the other hand, it was not increased in the APC group at 24 h after thrombolysis (11. 3 [0. 0 to 31. 0], p < 0. 01 vs. heparin group). CONCLUSIONS Administration of APC suppressed increasing of plasma PAI activity observed after thrombolysis in patients with AMI. The effect of APC could be more eligible, compared with heparin, as a conjunctive regimen to thrombolysis in AMI patients.
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A comparative double-blind randomized trial of activated protein C and unfractionated heparin in the treatment of disseminated intravascular coagulation
Aoki N, Matsuda T, Saito H, Takatsuki K, Okajima K, Takahashi H, Takamatsu J, Asakura H, Ogawa N, CTC-111-IM Clinical Research Group
International Journal of Hematology. 2002;75((5):):540-7.
Abstract
A randomized prospective double-blind trial was performed to compare the safety and efficacy of human activated protein C (APC) and unfractionated heparin for the treatment of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). One hundred thirty-two patients with DIC were enrolled in this study: 63 patients received APC (12.5 U [2.5 microg]/kg body wt per hour) and 69 patients received heparin (8 U/kg body wt per hour) by intravenous infusion for 6 days. Forty-nine APC-treated patients and 55 heparin-treated patients were evaluated for efficacy, and 52 APC-treated patients and 55 heparin-treated patients were evaluated for safety. The 2 groups were similar with respect to sex, age, body weight, underlying diseases, and coagulation/fibrinolysis parameters before treatment. Aggravation of bleeding was seen after treatment in 8 patients receiving heparin, but in none of the patients receiving APC. The number of patients who showed alleviation of bleeding was significantly higher in the APC group than the heparin group (P = .009). The effects on DIC-related organ dysfunction were not significantly different between the 2 groups. Fibrinogen-fibrin degradation products, D-dimer, thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT), and plasmin-plasmin inhibitor complex (PIC) were all significantly decreased by treatment in both groups. Fibrinogen, protein C, and antithrombin were significantly increased in the APC group, whereas only protein C was significantly increased in the heparin group. Platelet count in the nonleukemic group was significantly increased in those patients receiving APC but not increased in those patients receiving heparin. Improvement of coagulation/fibrinolysis was assessed by scoring 4 parameters (soluble fibrin monomers, D-dimer, TAT, and PIC), and the results indicated that the APC group showed significantly greater improvement than the heparin group (P = .046). There was, however, no significant difference in the rate of complete recovery from DIC between the 2 groups. The rate of death from any cause within 28 days after treatment was 20.4% in the APC group, significantly lower than the 40% death rate observed in the heparin group (P < .05). There were no severe adverse events in either group. These results suggest that APC in a relatively small dosage can improve DIC more efficiently than can heparin, without increasing bleeding, and may be a better alternative.
