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NCT Number: NCT07498309

Evaluation of the Efficacy of Iloprost in the Management of Vaso-occlusive Crises in Adult Patients With Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle cell disease is a severe monogenic genetic disorder caused by an autosomal recessive mutation of the β-globin gene, leading to production of abnormal hemoglobin (HbS). It primarily affects individuals from Africa or the French overseas territories. In France, approximately 26,000 patients are affected. Improved care has significantly increased life expectancy.

Vaso-occlusive crises (VOC) are the main clinical complication. They result from polymerization of HbS, deforming red blood cells and causing capillary occlusion, tissue hypoxia, intense bone pain, and frequent hospitalizations. In France in 2015, 25,150 hospitalizations were recorded, 61% of which were for VOC.

Iloprost is a prostacyclin (PGI2) analogue with vasodilatory, anti-platelet, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. It is used to treat severe limb ischemia and Raynaud's phenomenon, administered by IV infusion for 5 to 28 days.

It is well tolerated and has shown efficacy for bone pain related to bone marrow edema. Its rapid and sustained action makes it an interesting candidate for VOC, which are comparable to ischemic-origin pain. To date, only one reported case of iloprost use for a VOC exists, showing rapid and lasting improvement.

This randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial aims to evaluate the efficacy of iloprost in patients hospitalized for VOC, with the objective of reducing pain and opioid consumption.

This comprehensive approach could significantly improve VOC management.

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Key information

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Patients with major sickle cell syndrome (all genotypes). 2. Age ≥18 years 3. Require hospitalization and IV opioids for VOC treatment. 4. Admitted less than 36 hours before inclusion; H0 = hospital admission time. 5. Have read and signed informed consent. 6. For women:

  • Of childbearing potential (defined by the CTCG as a fertile woman, after menarche and until menopause, except in cases of permanent sterility, including hysterectomy, bilateral salpingectomy, or bilateral oophorectomy);
  • Using a highly effective method of contraception according to CTCG recommendations (combined hormonal contraception [containing estrogens and progestogens] associated with inhibition of ovulation, progestogen-only hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation, intrauterine device (IUD), intrauterine hormone-releasing system (IUS), bilateral tubal occlusion, vasectomized partner, sexual abstinence) for at least 4 weeks prior to inclusion and throughout the entire duration of systemic exposure to the study treatment. AND
  • Having a negative urine pregnancy test at inclusion;
  • Postmenopausal: Menopause, according to CTCG recommendations, is defined as the absence of menstruation for 12 months without any other medical cause. Elevated follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels in the postmenopausal interval can be used to confirm postmenopausal status in women who are not using hormonal contraception or hormone replacement therapy. However, in the absence of 12 months of amenorrhea, a single FSH measurement is insufficient.
  • Affiliated with a social security system

Exclusion criteria

  • Patients with a contraindication to iloprost (ILOPROST ZENTIVA 100 micrograms/mL, solution for dilution for infusion):
  • pregnancy, breastfeeding
  • Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients.
  • Conditions where the risk of bleeding may be increased due to the effects of iloprost on platelets (e.g., active peptic ulcer, trauma, intracranial hemorrhage).
  • severe coronary disease
  • recent MI <6 months
  • heart failure NYHA II-IV
  • severe arrhythmias
  • suspicion of pulmonary congestion
  • Active smoking
  • Patient presenting with hepatic impairment or renal impairment requiring dialysis
  • Patient presenting with a contraindication to 5% glucose (Glucose 5%

FRESENIUS KABI France solution for infusion):

  • Hypersensitivity to corn
  • Uncontrolled hyperglycemia,
  • Decompensated diabetes,
  • Other known glucose intolerances (e.g. situations of metabolic stress, acute shock states, collapse),
  • Hyperosmolar coma,
  • Hyperlactatemia,
  • Metabolic acidosis,
  • Fluid overload. The administration of high volumes may in particular result, due to fluid overload, in the following contraindications:
  • Hyperhydration
  • Acute heart failure
  • Pulmonary edema
  • Hypersensitivity to 5% glucose
  • Severe malnutrition
  • Thiamine deficiency in chronic alcoholic patients
  • Patient presenting with arterial hypotension
  • Patient having experienced a cerebrovascular event within the last 3 months
  • History of documented opioid dependence
  • Individuals deprived of liberty or under legal protection.
  • Patient included in PROSTASICKLE within last 90 days.
  • Participation in another drug trial within previous month.

Treatment and study plan

ILOPROST

Drug

1 ampoule IV over 6 h daily for 5 days diluted in 250 mL G5%

Placebo

Drug

250 mL G5% IV over 6 h daily for 5 days

Primary outcomes

  1. Opioid consumption

    Time frame: 28 days following randomization

    Mean opioid consumption in morphine equivalent mg/day over the 28 days following randomization

Secondary outcomes

  1. Mean pain

    Time frame: 28 days following randomization

    Mean pain according to the VAS (Visual Analog Scale) over the first 28 days. The VAS used in this study will be a scale from 0 to 10, with ratings ranging from "no pain" (0) to "the worst pain" (10). If the patient has multiple painful areas, the worst pain should be reported.

  2. Length of hospital

    Time frame: 28 days following randomization

    Length of hospital stay capped at 28 days

  3. Acute chest syndrome during hospitalization

    Time frame: 28 days following randomization

  4. Number of priapism episodes during hospitalization

    Time frame: 28 days following randomization

  5. hemoglobin level

    Time frame: 5 days following randomization

    Change in hemoglobin level (in g/dL) between baseline (day of randomization) and the 5-day assessment, or at hospital discharge if this occurs before 5 days

  6. reticulocyte count

    Time frame: 5 days following randomization

    Change in reticulocyte count (in giga/L) between baseline (day of randomization) and the 5-day assessment, or at hospital discharge if this occurs before 5 days

  7. lactate dehydrogenase activity

    Time frame: 5 days following randomization

    Change in lactate dehydrogenase activity (in IU/L) between baseline (day of randomization) and the 5-day assessment, or at hospital discharge if this occurs before 5 days

  8. leukocyte count

    Time frame: 5 days following randomization

    Change in leukocyte count (in giga/L) between baseline (day of randomization) and the 5-day assessment, or at hospital discharge if this occurs before 5 days

  9. C-reactive protein

    Time frame: 5 days following randomization

    Change in serum C-reactive protein concentration (in mg/L) between baseline (day of randomization) and the 5-day assessment, or at hospital discharge if this occurs before 5 days

  10. thrombin generation test

    Time frame: 5 days following randomization

    Change in thrombin generation test result via thrombin peak height between baseline (day of randomization) and the 5-day assessment, or at hospital discharge if this occurs before 5 days

  11. D-dimers

    Time frame: 5 days following randomization

    Change in D-dimers (μg/L) between baseline (day of randomization) and the 5-day assessment, or at hospital discharge if this occurs before 5 days

  12. prothrombin fragments 1+2

    Time frame: 5 days following randomization

    Change in serum concentration of prothrombin fragments 1+2 (nmol/L) between baseline (day of randomization) and the 5-day assessment, or at hospital discharge if this occurs before 5 days

  13. thrombomodulin concentration

    Time frame: 5 days following randomization

    Change in serum thrombomodulin concentration (ng/mL) between baseline (day of randomization) and the 5-day assessment, or at hospital discharge if this occurs before 5 days

  14. erythrocyte microvesicles

    Time frame: 5 days following randomization

    Change in blood concentration of erythrocyte microvesicles (vesicles/μL) between baseline (day of randomization) and the 5-day assessment, or at hospital discharge if this occurs before 5 days

  15. S-endothelin concentration

    Time frame: 5 days following randomization

    Change in serum S-endothelin concentration (pg/mL) between baseline (day of randomization) and the 5-day assessment, or at hospital discharge if this occurs before 5 days

  16. E-selectin concentration

    Time frame: 5 days following randomization

    Change in serum E-selectin concentration (ng/mL) between baseline (day of randomization) and the 5-day assessment, or at hospital discharge if this occurs before 5 days

  17. P-selectin concentration

    Time frame: 5 days following randomization

    Change in serum P-selectin concentration (ng/mL) between baseline (day of randomization) and the 5-day assessment, or at hospital discharge if this occurs before 5 days

  18. VCAM-1 concentration

    Time frame: 5 days following randomization

    Change in serum VCAM-1 concentration (ng/mL) between baseline (day of randomization) and the 5-day assessment, or at hospital discharge if this occurs before 5 days

  19. Number of vaso-occlusive crises

    Time frame: 90 days following randomization

    occurring within 90 days after randomization, excluding the initial vaso-occlusive crisis

  20. Total cost of management

    Time frame: 90 days following randomization

    Total cost of management including prescription costs (notably iloprost) and costs associated with hospitalizations (from the health insurance perspective)

  21. Time interval between randomization and last opioid use

    Time frame: 28 days following randomization

    Time interval between randomization and last opioid use at 28 days

  22. Duration of priapism episodes during hospitalization

    Time frame: 28 days following randomization

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Maximilien GRALL

CONTACT

[email protected]

+332 32 88 58 28

Mylene HERVET

CONTACT

[email protected]

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University Hospital, Rouen

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Evaluation of the Efficacy of Iloprost in the Management of Vaso-occlusive Crises in Adult Patients With Sickle Cell Disease: Multicenter, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study

Acronym: PROSTASICKLE

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2030
Study completion
2030
First posted
Mar 27, 2026
Registry last updated
Mar 27, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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