El-Tamalawy MM, Soliman MM, Omara AF, Rashad A, Ibrahim OM, El-Shishtawy MM. Efficacy and Safety of Neostigmine Adjunctive Therapy in Patients With Sepsis or Septic Shock: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Front Pharmacol 2022;
13:855764. [PMID:
35330830 PMCID:
PMC8940304 DOI:
10.3389/fphar.2022.855764]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Neostigmine has been found to improve survival in animal models of sepsis. However, its feasibility, efficacy, and safety in patients with sepsis or septic shock have not been investigated.
Aim: This parallel randomized controlled double-blinded design aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of neostigmine as an adjunctive therapy in patients with sepsis or septic shock.
Patients and Methods: A total of 167 adult patients with sepsis or septic shock were assessed for eligibility; 50 patients were randomized to receive a continuous infusion of neostigmine (0.2 mg/h for 120 h; neostigmine arm) or 0.9% saline (control arm) in addition to standard therapy. The primary outcome was the change in Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores 120 h after therapy initiation. Secondary outcomes included mortality rates and changes in procalcitonin level.
Results: The median (interquartile range) change in SOFA scores improved significantly in the neostigmine arm [−2 (−5, 1)] as compared with the control arm [1.5 (0, 2.8); p = 0.007]. Progression from sepsis to septic shock was more frequent in the control arm (p = 0.01). The incidence of shock reversal in patients with septic shock was significantly lower in the control arm than in the neostigmine arm (p = 0.04). Differences in 28-days mortality rates did not reach statistical significance between the control and neostigmine arms (p = 0.36). Percentage change in procalcitonin levels was similar in both arms (p = 0.74).
Conclusion: Neostigmine adjunctive therapy may be safe and effective when administered in patients with sepsis or septic shock.
Clinical Trial Registration: NCT04130230.
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