An interventional study of CytoSorb hemoadsorption and Standard Medical Therapy (SMT) in Septic Shock, sponsored by Semmelweis University. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in Hungary. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 80 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-07-17.
Sponsored by Semmelweis University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
This study aims to investigate the effects of adjunctive CytoSorb hemoadsorption therapy versus standard medical treatment on endothelial dysfunction in patients with refractory septic shock. The investigators hypothesize that hemoadsorption mitigates endothelial and glycocalyx injury by removing inflammatory mediators and other injurious circulating molecules, promoting hemodynamic stabilization.
This is a prospective, randomised, controlled, open-label, monocentric, proof-of-concept trial. Patients will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either standard medical therapy alone or standard therapy plus continuous CytoSorb hemoadsorption for 24 hours. Blood samples will be collected at baseline, 6, 12, 18, and 24 hours, and then daily for 5 days to analyze endothelial markers, microRNAs, and inflammatory parameters. An adaptive group sequential design allows for an interim unblinded sample size re-estimation after the first 30 evaluable patients.
1,078 studies on the registry are indexed under Shock, Septic; 232 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 110 is above the median of 79 across 636 interventional studies indexed under Shock, Septic.
Browse Shock, Septic studies →Semmelweis University is the lead sponsor of 140 studies on the registry; 56 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.
Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.
GFR (glomerular filtration rate) is how much blood the kidneys filter each minute. It is usually estimated from a blood test — eGFR, by formulas such as CKD-EPI or MDRD — and some studies ask for it to be measured directly instead. Usually given in mL/min/1.73 m².
Check the method, the units and the minimum the study states. A value of 90 or above is in the normal-or-high range, but kidney damage can show in other tests too.
A score of how well the liver works in people with liver disease such as cirrhosis: class A is mild, B moderate and C severe.
The New York Heart Association’s four classes of how much heart failure limits physical activity.
Studies set their own limit — many outside heart failure leave out class III–IV, while heart failure studies may ask for a particular class. Check the class this study names.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: long-term lung disease that makes it hard to breathe out, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
Corticosteroids (steroids)
Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.
Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
GFR and eGFR (kidney filtering)
GFR (glomerular filtration rate) is how much blood the kidneys filter each minute. It is usually estimated from a blood test — eGFR, by formulas such as CKD-EPI or MDRD — and some studies ask for it to be measured directly instead. Usually given in mL/min/1.73 m².
Check the method, the units and the minimum the study states. A value of 90 or above is in the normal-or-high range, but kidney damage can show in other tests too.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Child-Pugh class
A score of how well the liver works in people with liver disease such as cirrhosis: class A is mild, B moderate and C severe.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
NYHA class (heart failure)
The New York Heart Association’s four classes of how much heart failure limits physical activity.
Studies set their own limit — many outside heart failure leave out class III–IV, while heart failure studies may ask for a particular class. Check the class this study names.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: long-term lung disease that makes it hard to breathe out, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Patients will receive standard medical therapy (SMT) according to local protocols based on international 'Surviving Sepsis Campaign' guidelines.
Other: Standard Medical Therapy (SMT)
Patients will receive standard medical therapy plus a fixed 24-hour continuous hemoadsorption treatment utilizing two sequential CytoSorb cartridges (exchanged at the 12-hour mark).
Device: CytoSorb hemoadsorption
Target blood flow rate of 1.5 ml/kg/min, implemented either as a standalone extracorporeal treatment or integrated into a CRRT circuit (CVVHDF mode, preferably with regional citrate anticoagulation).
Standard Medical Therapy according to local protocols based on the current international 'Surviving Sepsis Campaign' guidelines.
Changes in Syndecan-1 serum levels
Serum Syndecan-1, a marker of endothelial glycocalyx injury, will be measured in arterial blood samples. The outcome is the log-scale change from baseline to the T24 post-baseline Syndecan-1 value in ng/mL. If the T24 value is missing, the value will be considered missing. Negative values indicate a decrease from baseline. Syndecan-1 values will be analysed on the natural logarithmic scale due to expected right skew.
Time frame: Baseline (T0), 6, 12, 18, and 24 hours, and then daily up to 5 days (including pre- and postadsorbent samples in the CytoSorb group)
Change in Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA)-2 score
Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA)-2 is an organ dysfunction score used in critically ill patients. SOFA-2 includes 6 organ systems with total score ranging from 0 to 24 (higher scores indicate worse organ dysfunction). Change from baseline will be calculated at each post-baseline assessment and reported in score points.
Time frame: Baseline (T0), 24 hours, and then daily up to 5 days.
Change from baseline in arterial blood concentrations of endothelial and glycocalyx-specific markers (Glypican-1, Heparan-sulfate, sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, soluble E-selectin, soluble P-selectin)
Arterial blood concentrations of glypican-1, heparan sulfate, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin/CD62E), and soluble P-selectin (sP-selectin) will be measured in ng/mL. For each biomarker, the change from baseline (T0) will be calculated at each post-baseline assessment. Results will be reported separately for each biomarker; no composite score will be calculated.
Time frame: Baseline (T0), 6, 12, 18, and 24 hours, and then daily up to 5 days.
Change from baseline in arterial blood concentrations of endothelial markers (MCP-1, VEGF)
Arterial blood concentrations of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1/C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (MCP-1/CCL2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) will be measured in pg/mL. For each biomarker, the change from baseline (T0) will be calculated at each post-baseline assessment. Results will be reported separately for each biomarker; no composite score will be calculated.
Time frame: Baseline (T0), 6, 12, 18, and 24 hours, and then daily up to 5 days.
Change from baseline in quantification cycle values of selected microRNAs associated with endothelial function, vascular homeostasis, and inflammation (miR-126, miR-92a, miR-155, miR-21, miR-23a)
Expression of miR-126, miR-92a, miR-155, miR-21, and miR-23a will be measured in arterial blood samples by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and reported as quantification cycle (Cq) values. For each microRNA, change from baseline at each post-baseline time point will be calculated as the Cq value at that time point minus the corresponding Cq value at baseline (T0). Results will be analyzed and reported separately for each microRNA; no composite or aggregated microRNA score will be calculated. Hemolyzed samples will be excluded from the microRNA analyses.
Time frame: Baseline (T0) and 6, 12, 18, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 hours after T0
Change from baseline in arterial lactate levels
Arterial lactate concentration will be measured in arterial blood samples and reported in mmol/L. at each post-baseline time point will be calculated as the arterial lactate concentration at that time point minus the arterial lactate concentration at baseline (T0). Changes at each time point will be reported separately.
Time frame: Baseline (T0) and 6, 12, 18, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 hours after T0
Change from baseline in procalcitonin concentration
Procalcitonin (PCT) concentration will be measured in arterial blood samples and reported in ng/mL. For each participant, change from baseline at each post-baseline time point will be calculated as the PCT concentration at that time point minus the PCT concentration at baseline (T0). Changes at each time point will be reported separately.
Time frame: Baseline (T0) and 6, 12, 18, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 hours after T0
Change from baseline in C-reactive protein concentration
C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration will be measured in arterial blood samples and reported in mg/L. For each participant, change from baseline at each post-baseline time point will be calculated as the CRP concentration at that time point minus the CRP concentration at baseline (T0). Changes at each time point will be reported separately.
Time frame: Baseline (T0) and 6, 12, 18, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 hours after T0
Change from baseline in white blood cell count
White blood cell count (WBC) will be measured in arterial blood samples and reported in G/L. For each participant, change from baseline at each post-baseline time point will be calculated as the WBC count at that time point minus the WBC count at baseline (T0). Changes at each time point will be reported separately.
Time frame: Baseline (T0) and 6, 12, 18, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 hours after T0
Change from baseline in ferritin concentration
Ferritin concentration will be measured in arterial blood samples and reported in ng/mL. For each participant, change from baseline at each post-baseline time point will be calculated as the ferritin concentration at that time point minus the ferritin concentration at baseline (T0). Changes at each time point will be reported separately.
Time frame: Baseline (T0) and 6, 12, 18, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 hours after T0
Change from baseline in tumor necrosis factor alpha concentration
Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) concentration will be measured in arterial blood samples and reported in pg/mL. For each participant, change from baseline at each post-baseline time point will be calculated as the TNF-α concentration at that time point minus the TNF-α concentration at baseline (T0). Changes at each time point will be reported separately.
Time frame: Baseline (T0) and 6, 12, 18, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 hours after T0
Change from baseline in interleukin-1 beta concentration
Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) concentration will be measured in arterial blood samples and reported in pg/mL. For each participant, change from baseline at each post-baseline time point will be calculated as the IL-1β concentration at that time point minus the IL-1β concentration at baseline (T0). Changes at each time point will be reported separately.
Time frame: Baseline (T0) and 6, 12, 18, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 hours after T0
Change from baseline in interleukin-8 concentration
Interleukin-8 (IL-8) concentration will be measured in arterial blood samples and reported in pg/mL. For each participant, change from baseline at each post-baseline time point will be calculated as the IL-8 concentration at that time point minus the IL-8 concentration at baseline (T0). Changes at each time point will be reported separately.
Time frame: Baseline (T0) and 6, 12, 18, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 hours after T0
Change from baseline in extravascular Lung Water Index (EVLWI)
Extravascular Lung Water Index willl be measured using invasive hemodynamic monitoring and reported in ml/kg. Change from baseline at each post-baseline time point will be calculated as the EVLWI at that time point minus the EVLWI at baseline
Time frame: Baseline (T0) and 6, 12, 18, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 hours after T0
Change from baseline in Vasoactive-Inotropic Score (VIS)
The Vasoactive-Inotropic Score (VIS) quantifies the amount of cardiovascular support a patient receives through vasoactive and inotropic medications. The VIS is calculated as: VIS = dopamine (µg/kg/min) + dobutamine (µg/kg/min) + 100 × epinephrine (µg/kg/min) + 100 × norepinephrine (µg/kg/min) + 10 × milrinone (µg/kg/min) + 10 × vasopressin (U/kg/min) at each time point. Higher score indicates worse outcome. VIS at each post-baseline time point will be calculated as the VIS at that time point minus the VIS at baseline (T0). Changes at each time point will be reported separately.
Time frame: Baseline (T0) and 6, 12, 18, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 hours after T0
Daily fluid balance through Day 28
Daily fluid balance will be calculated for each 24-hour period as total fluid intake minus total fluid output. Negative values indicate that fluid output exceeded fluid intake during the corresponding 24-hour period. Daily fluid balance will be reported in mL at each assessment day.
Time frame: From T0 through Day 28, assessed every 24 hours
Time to first negative daily fluid balance
Time to first negative daily fluid balance will be calculated as the time from T0 to the end of the first 24-hour assessment period during which total fluid output exceeds total fluid intake, corresponding to a daily fluid balance of less than zero. Time will be reported in days. Participants who do not achieve a negative daily fluid balance by Day 28 will be censored at Day 28.
Time frame: From T0 through Day 28
Cumulative fluid balance through Day 28
Cumulative fluid balance will be calculated as the sum of fluid intake minus fluid output from T0 through each assessment time point. Negative values indicate that cumulative fluid output exceeded cumulative fluid intake since T0. Cumulative fluid balance will be reported in mL at each assessment day.
Time frame: From T0 through Day 28, assessed every 24 hours
Time to first negative cumulative fluid balance
Time to first negative cumulative fluid balance will be calculated as the time from T0 to the first assessment at which cumulative fluid output since T0 exceeds cumulative fluid intake since T0, corresponding to a cumulative fluid balance of less than zero. Time will be reported in days. Participants who do not achieve a negative cumulative fluid balance by Day 28 will be censored at Day 28.
Time frame: From T0 through Day 28
Vasopressor-free days through Day 28
Vasopressor-free days will be calculated as the number of days from Day 1 through Day 28 during which the participant is alive and free from vasopressor treatment. A day will be counted as vasopressor-free only when no vasopressor is administered during that day. The possible range is 0 to 28 days, with higher values indicating more days alive without vasopressor support.
Time frame: Day 1 through Day 28
Mechanical ventilation-free days through Day 28
Mechanical ventilation-free days will be calculated as the number of days from Day 1 through Day 28 during which the participant is alive and free from mechanical ventilation. A day will be counted as ventilation-free only when no mechanical ventilation is provided during that day. The possible range is 0 to 28 days, with higher values indicating more days alive without mechanical ventilatory support.
Time frame: Day 1 through Day 28
Continuous renal replacement therapy-free days through Day 28
Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT)-free days will be calculated as the number of days from Day 1 through Day 28 during which the participant is alive and free from CRRT. A day will be counted as CRRT-free only when no CRRT is administered during that day. The possible range is 0 to 28 days, with higher values indicating more days alive without CRRT.
Time frame: Day 1 through Day 28
Intensive Care Unit length of stay through Day 28
Intensive Care Unit (ICU) length of stay will be calculated as the elapsed time in days from ICU admission to ICU discharge or death in the ICU, whichever occurs first. Participants who remain in the ICU on Day 28 will be censored at Day 28.
Time frame: From ICU admission through ICU discharge, death in the ICU, or Day 28, whichever occurs first
Survival rates (ICU survival, Hospital survival, and 28-day survival)
ICU survival, hospital survival, and 28-day survival will be recorded separately as alive/deceased status at ICU discharge, hospital discharge, and Day 28 after randomization. Results will be reported as proportions of participants surviving at each time point.
Time frame: Up to 28 days.
Incidence and severity of Adverse Events (AEs) and Serious Adverse Events (SAEs)
Adverse events, serious adverse events, and device deficiencies will be recorded from baseline through Day 28. Events will be summarized by incidence, event type, severity, relationship to the study device or procedure, outcome, and seriousness.
Time frame: From baseline up to 28 days.
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