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Completed

NCT Number: NCT04751643

Therapeutic Plasma Exchange to Alleviate Hyperinflammatory Condition During Severe Covid-19 Infections

Severe Covid-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) infections generate major but inappropriate production of cytokines and, in some cases, generate anti-IFN (Interferon) auto-antibodies, inducing acute respiratory distress syndrom (ARDS). Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) have been reported to be efficient for improving the hyperinflammatory condition state and the respiratory function, which has been described in case reports or small series.

The study aims to remove cytokines during cytokine storm and anti-IFN auto-antibodies (when present) to prevent developpement of an inappropriate immune response and to improve the clinical response to reanimation treatment, in particular the respiratory parameters leading to a rapid improvement of clinical status. To that aim, the study investigates to compare a treatment using TPE plus usual treatments in intensive care unit (experimental arm) versus usual treatments in intensive care unit (routine arm) in a randomised trial.

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Key information

Conditions

Intensive Care Units ARDS, Human COVID-19 Coronaviridae Infections Coronavirus Infections Covid19 Cytokine Release Syndrome Infections Inflammation Lung Diseases Nidovirales Infections Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Pneumonia Pneumonia, Viral RNA Virus Infections Respiration Disorders Respiratory Distress Syndrome Respiratory Tract Diseases Respiratory Tract Infections Shock Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome Virus Diseases

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Centre Hospitalier William Morey, Chalon-sur-Saône, France

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Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Age ≥ 18 years
  • Hospitalized for COVID-19 confirmed by Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) or scanner
  • Patients with PaO2/FiO2 between 75 and 175 mmHg requiring non invasive ventilation or high flow oxygen
  • peripheral venous state allowing PE to be performed, according to the investigator's judgement, or possibility of placing a Sheldon-type veinous central line
  • At least two biological results suggesting a cytokine storm or hyperinflammatory condition state among : C-reactive protéine (CRP)>50mg/L, Procalcitonin (PCT)>1µg/L, Fibrinogen>5g/L, D-dimer >1000ng/mL, Ferritin > 800ng/mL during the last 72 hours.
  • Treatment with corticosteroids (at least 2 intakes of dexamethasone 6 mg or equivalent with another form of corticosteroids)
  • Patient affiliated to a social security or similar scheme
  • Information and written consent from the patient or if not possible from a confident person

Exclusion criteria

  • Ventilated intubated patients
  • Patient with advanced cancer and without curative possibility
  • Bacterial or viral (HIV) infection explaining the worsening (the main reason)
  • Body Mass Index > 40
  • Severe hemodynamic instability with mean arterial pressure < 65 mmHg (whatever the noradrenaline dosage used)
  • Known Immunoglobulin A (IgA) deficiency with anti-IgA antibodies
  • Inclusion in another study that could interact with the Covidep study (investigator's judgement)
  • Patient under legal protection measure
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding women
  • In case of allergy to amotosalen (psoralens) or AI-FFP (Amotosalen Inactivated Fresh Frozen Plasma) , use Se-FFP (Secured Fresh Frozen Plasma)

Treatment and study plan

Therapeutic plasma exchange : 3 sessions in 3 consecutive days (day 1 to day 3)

Other

Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) ; 3 sessions in 3 consecutive days (Day 1 to Day 3) in intensive care unit in addition to usual treatments.

Plasma removed is replaced by thawed fresh frozen plasma. Plasma blood volume exchanged : 1.2 Apheresis type: centrifugation

Usual treatments in intensive care unit according to the current state of knowledge

Other

Usual treatments of patients in intensive care unit with hyperinflammatory condition due to Covid-19 infection consist in supporting respiratory function, oxygen supplementation, non invasive ventilation, invasive ventilation, antibiotic, vasopressive support and corticosteroids (in absence of bacterial secondary infection)

Primary outcomes

  1. Use of intubation and invasive ventilation (IV) between Day 0 (Inclusion Visit) and Day 10

    Time frame: At day 10

    Proportion of patients requiring intubation between Day 0 and Day 10. Intubation use will be measured in both arms at Day 10.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Assess the adverse events according to CTCAE v5.0

    Time frame: Throughout the study : Day 1 to Day 10 and to the end of the study (Day 60 +/- 2 days)

    Adverse events according to CTCAE v5.0 measured throughout the study, in both groups, including tolerance to TPEs in the experimental group over the course of the study sessions.

  2. PaO2/FIO2 (Partial Pressure of Oxygen/Fraction of Inspired Oxygen) (mmHg) at day 4 after inclusion (PaO2/FiO2 is a usual parameter for assessing evolution of ARDS)

    Time frame: At Day 4

    PaO2/FIO2 (mmHg) at day 4 after inclusion. This parameter will be compared between day 4 and day 0.The change corresponds to an increase of PaO2/FIO2 ratio equal or superior than 20%. The proportion of patients with a PaO2/FiO2 change at Day 4 will be compared between both arms.

  3. Percentage of patients weaned from non invasive ventilation

    Time frame: At day 10

    Percentage of patients weaned from high flow oxygen. This parameter is compared between both arms (experimental and control arms).

  4. O2 weaning capacity and duration of O2 dependence

    Time frame: At day 60

    This parameter is compared between both arms (experimental and control arms).

  5. Survival at day 10

    Time frame: At day 10

    Percentage of patients alive at day 10 after inclusion. This parameter is compared between both arms.

  6. Survival at 2 months

    Time frame: At day 60 (+/- 2 days)

    Percentage of patients alive at 2 months after inclusion. This parameter is compared between both arms.

  7. Percentage of patients without any increase in inflammatory parameters (analysis of C-reactive protein, Fibrinogen,D-Dimers, procalcitonin, Ferritin)

    Time frame: At day 4

    Percentage of patients without any increase in inflammatory parameters (analysis of C-reactive protein, Fibrinogen,D-Dimers, procalcitonin, Ferritin ) at day 4 compared to values at day 0. This parameter is compared between both arms.

  8. Variation in cytokine and chemokine levels in the cytokine storm

    Time frame: At day 4

    Percentage of patients without any increase in cytokine or chemokine levels. Leucocyte and platelet cytokine or chemokine levels in ng/ml are assessed in both arms. Analysis of the entire panel of cytokines or chemokines defines an improvement or not. Comparison between both arms.

  9. Percentage of patients with improved phenotype (decreased phenotype of exhausted cells) and improved function (improved proliferation)

    Time frame: At day 7

    Lymphocyte and NK (Natural Killer) labeling and analysis by flow cytometry at day 0 and day 7. Analysis of lymphocyte proliferation (after stimulation) at day 0 and day 7. Analysis of percentage of patients with improved phenotype (decreased phenotype of exhausted cells) and improved function (improved proliferation) ; this parameter is compared between both arms.

  10. Percentage of patients with decreased platelet activation

    Time frame: At Day 4

    Phenotype of platelets and flow cytometry analysis performed before and after TPE or usual treatment. Percentage of patients with decreased platelet activation at day 4 ; this parameter is compared between both arms.

  11. Percentage of patients with decreased platelet activation

    Time frame: At Day 7

    Phenotype of platelets and flow cytometry analysis performed before and after TPE or usual treatment. Percentage of patients with decreased platelet activation at day 7 ; this parameter is compared between both arms.

  12. Change in anti-IFN auto-antibodies type I (α and ω) level

    Time frame: Day 0 and Day 4

    Change in anti-IFN auto-antibodies type I (α and ω) level at day 0 and day 4.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Hospices Civils de Lyon

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Assessment of Therapeutic Plasma Exchange to Improve Respiratory Function by Alleviating Cytokine Storm During Severe Covid-19 Infections Randomised Open-label Controlled Trial

Acronym: CovidEP

Important dates

Study start
2021
Primary completion
2022
Study completion
2022
First posted
Feb 12, 2021
Registry last updated
Sep 3, 2025

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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