An observational study in Septic Shock and Use of Vasopressin, sponsored by Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris. Not yet recruiting at 8 sites in France. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-07-13.
Sponsored by Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris · Observational
In patients with septic shock, vasopressin is increasingly used in combination with norepinephrine, but its timing of initiation remains heterogeneous and its clinical hemodynamic effects are still insufficiently characterized. Available data suggest variable responses, which may depend on the hemodynamic phenotype at the time of treatment initiation. In particular, the effects of vasopressin may differ according to the presence of preload dependency, baseline cardiac output, impaired systolic function, or baseline diastolic arterial pressure, reflecting the degree of vasoplegia. In this context, the VASO-PHENO study aims to provide a detailed and dynamic description of the early hemodynamic and clinical effects of vasopressin initiation in septic shock.
To date, no clinical study has systematically and dynamically evaluated the effects of vasopressin on central and peripheral hemodynamic parameters according to the hemodynamic profile at the time of its initiation. Describing these effects appears essential to better understand the variability in clinical responses and to contribute to a more rational and personalized approach to vasopressor escalation in septic shock.
In patients with septic shock, hemodynamic profiles are highly heterogeneous. From a pathophysiological perspective, three main hemodynamic phenotypic components may contribute to the septic shock state:
In some of these contexts, the introduction of vasopressin, as a pure vasoconstrictor, may be inappropriate or even harmful, by impairing cardiac output or exposing the patient to excessive vasoconstriction and a subsequent risk of ischemia.
Thus:
To date, no study has precisely described the effects of vasopressin on macrocirculatory hemodynamic parameters, including arterial pressure, cardiac output, and central venous pressure, and on routinely assessable microcirculatory parameters, including capillary refill time, mottling, and urine output, according to the different hemodynamic phenotypic components present at the time of vasopressin initiation.
Describing the evolution of these parameters appears essential to better understand the variability in clinical responses and associated outcomes. Such an approach could help identify at-risk profiles and provide objective elements to support a more rational and personalized escalation of vasopressor therapy in septic shock.
Adult patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit for septic shock and with use of vasopressin
Exclusion Criteria:
To describe and compare the evolution of cardiac index between inclusion and 20 minutes after vasopressin initiation in patients with septic shock, according to hemodynamic profiles identified a posteriori from variables collected at the time of vasopre
Hemodynamic profiles will not be defined a priori. They will be identified a posteriori using a supervised clustering analysis based on variables measured at inclusion and selected for their pathophysiological relevance: * presence of preload dependency at the time of vasopressin initiation (yes/no); * cardiac index at inclusion; * diastolic arterial pressure at inclusion; * left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).
Time frame: T0 = inclusion. T20 = 20 minutes after the introduction of the vasopressin
To describe the evolution of cardiac index between inclusion (T0), T1h, T3h, and T24h after vasopressin initiation
Secondary objectives will be analyzed in the overall population and, for descriptive purposes, according to the hemodynamic profiles identified by clustering analysis and according to age at inclusion. Hemodynamic profiles will not be defined a priori. They will be identified a posteriori using a supervised clustering analysis based on variables measured at inclusion and selected for their pathophysiological relevance: * presence of preload dependency at the time of vasopressin initiation (yes/no); * cardiac index at inclusion; * diastolic arterial pressure at inclusion; * left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).
Time frame: T0 = inclusion, T1h = 1 hour after the introduction of the vasopressin, T3h = 3 hours after the introduction of the vasopressin. T24h = 24 hours after the introduction of the vasopressin
Change in mean arterial pressure after vasopressin initiation
Mean arterial pressure will be measured at inclusion before vasopressin initiation and at predefined time points after vasopressin initiation. The evolution of mean arterial pressure will be described in the overall population.
Time frame: T0 = inclusion, T20 = 20 minutes after the introduciton of the vasopressin, T1h = 1 hour after the introduction of the vasopressin, T3h = 3 hours after the introduction of the vasopressin. T24h = 24 hours after the introduction of the vasopressin
In patients monitored with a Swan-Ganz® pulmonary artery catheter: to describe the evolution of pulmonary artery occlusion pressure between inclusion (T0), T20, T1h, T3h, and T24h after vasopressin initiation3.
PAPO will be assessed with a standard occlusion of the ballon in the pulmonary arteries with the use of the Swan Ganz. Secondary objectives will be analyzed in the overall population and, for descriptive purposes, according to the hemodynamic profiles identified by clustering analysis and according to age at inclusion. Hemodynamic profiles will not be defined a priori. They will be identified a posteriori using a supervised clustering analysis based on variables measured at inclusion and selected for their pathophysiological relevance: * presence of preload dependency at the time of vasopressin initiation (yes/no); * cardiac index at inclusion; * diastolic arterial pressure at inclusion; * left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).
Time frame: T0 = inclusion, T20 = 20 minutes after the introduciton of the vasopressin, T1h = 1 hour after the introduction of the vasopressin, T3h = 3 hours after the introduction of the vasopressin. T24h = 24 hours after the introduction of the vasopressin
In patients monitored with a transpulmonary thermodilution device combined with pulse contour analysis (PiCCO®): to describe the evolution of indexed extravascular lung water between inclusion (T0), T20, T1h, T3h, and T24h after vasopressin initiation
The indexed extravascular lung water will be assessed with a standard thermodilution in patients with PICCO. Hemodynamic profiles will not be defined a priori. They will be identified a posteriori using a supervised clustering analysis based on variables measured at inclusion and selected for their pathophysiological relevance: * presence of preload dependency at the time of vasopressin initiation (yes/no); * cardiac index at inclusion; * diastolic arterial pressure at inclusion; * left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).
Time frame: T0 = inclusion, T20 = 20 minutes after the introduciton of the vasopressin, T1h = 1 hour after the introduction of the vasopressin, T3h = 3 hours after the introduction of the vasopressin. T24h = 24 hours after the introduction of the vasopressin
To describe the evolution of mean arterial pressure between inclusion (T0), T20, T1h, T3h, and T24h after vasopressin initiation, according to diastolic arterial pressure at inclusion.
Secondary objectives will be analyzed in the overall population and, for descriptive purposes, according to the hemodynamic profiles identified by clustering analysis and according to age at inclusion. Hemodynamic profiles will not be defined a priori. They will be identified a posteriori using a supervised clustering analysis based on variables measured at inclusion and selected for their pathophysiological relevance: * presence of preload dependency at the time of vasopressin initiation (yes/no); * cardiac index at inclusion; * diastolic arterial pressure at inclusion; * left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).
Time frame: T0 = inclusion, T20 = 20 minutes after the introduciton of the vasopressin, T1h = 1 hour after the introduction of the vasopressin, T3h = 3 hours after the introduction of the vasopressin. T24h = 24 hours after the introduction of the vasopressin
Change in urine output during the first 24 hours after vasopressin initiation
Urine output will be collected every 2 hours during the first 24 hours after vasopressin initiation. The evolution of urine output will be described in the overall population.
Time frame: Urine output will be assessed every 2 hours from the introduction of vasopressine (T0) to 24 hours after the introduction of the vasopressine (T24)
Change in capillary refill time after vasopressin initiation
Capillary refill time will be assessed at baseline and at predefined time points after vasopressin initiation using a standardized method. The evolution of capillary refill time will be described in the overall population.
Time frame: T0 = inclusion, T20 = 20 minutes after the introduciton of the vasopressin, T1h = 1 hour after the introduction of the vasopressin, T3h = 3 hours after the introduction of the vasopressin. T24h = 24 hours after the introduction of the vasopressin
To describe the evolution of the mottling between the introduction of vasopressin (T0), T20, T1h, T3h, and T24h after vasopressin initiation, according to the evolution of the mean arterial pressure, diastolic arterial pressure, and of the cardiac output
Mottling will be assessed in a standardized way, by the mottling score. The mottling score describe the intensy of the mottling, from 0 (no mottling) to 5 (mottling up to the abdominal skin)
Time frame: T0 = inclusion, T20 = 20 minutes after the introduciton of the vasopressin, T1h = 1 hour after the introduction of the vasopressin, T3h = 3 hours after the introduction of the vasopressin. T24h = 24 hours after the introduction of the vasopressin
To describe the evolution of arterial lactate between the introduction of vasopressin (T0), T20, T1h, T3h and T24h after vasopressin initiation, according to the evolution of the mean arterial pressure, diastolic arterial pressure and cardiac output
Arterial lactate will be assessed by a arterial blood gaz sample, if available at this different time point.
Time frame: T0 = inclusion, T20 = 20 minutes after the introduction of the vasopressin, T1h = 1 hour after the introduction of the vasopressin, T3h = 3 hours after the introduction of the vasopressin. T24h = 24 hours after the introduction of the vasopressin
To describe the evolution of the cardiac output between the introduction of vasopressin (T0), T20, T1H, T3h and T24h after vasopressin initiation, according to the initial left ventricular ejection fraction.
Cardiac output will be assessed with PICCO2 device or pulmonary artery catheterization. Left ventricular ejection fraction will be asssessed before adminstration of the vasopressin.
Time frame: T0 = inclusion, T20 = 20 minutes after the introduction of the vasopressin, T1h = 1 hour after the introduction of the vasopressin, T3h = 3 hours after the introduction of the vasopressin. T24h = 24 hours after the introduction of the vasopressin
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Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris