Diuretic Therapy for Heart Failure

(ESCALATE Trial)

Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)

+1 other location

Overseen by Sean P. Collins, MD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Travel: May Be Covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: Phase 2

Recruiting

Sponsor: Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Must be taking: Diuretics

Must not be taking: Ototoxic medications

Disqualifiers: ESRD, Intubation, Coronary syndrome, others

No Placebo Group

Prior Safety Data

Approved in 2 Jurisdictions

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This is a randomized trial of protocolized diuretic therapy guided by urinary sodium compared to structured usual care in ED patients with AHF. Participants will be recruited following an initial standard evaluation in the ED and randomized in a 1:1 fashion to structured usual care or protocolized diuretic therapy guided by urinary sodium.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications, but you cannot participate if you are using certain ototoxic medications (drugs that can damage the ear) like intravenous aminoglycosides and cisplatin.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Protocolized diuretic therapy, Protocolized diuretic therapy, Urinary sodium-guided diuretic therapy, Natriuresis-guided diuretic therapy for heart failure?

Research shows that natriuresis-guided diuretic therapy can improve the body's ability to excrete sodium in patients with acute heart failure, which is a positive sign of treatment response. However, it did not significantly reduce the risk of death or hospital readmission compared to standard care. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is diuretic therapy safe for heart failure patients?

Diuretic therapy, including furosemide, is generally safe for heart failure patients, though some may experience side effects like low potassium levels and dehydration. Serious side effects are rare and usually occur in very ill patients. ^{1 2 6 7 8}

How is protocolized diuretic therapy different from other treatments for heart failure?

Protocolized diuretic therapy for heart failure is unique because it uses urinary sodium levels to guide treatment, allowing for personalized adjustments to diuretic doses based on how well the body is excreting sodium. This approach aims to improve the effectiveness of diuretic therapy by tailoring it to the individual's response, unlike standard treatments that do not typically use such specific biomarkers. ^{2 3 9 10 11}

Research Team

Sean P. Collins, MD

Principal Investigator

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Eligibility Criteria

The ESCALATE trial is for adults over 18 with Acute Heart Failure (AHF) diagnosed in the Emergency Department. They must have symptoms like edema, chest X-ray or ultrasound showing AHF, jugular vein swelling, lung crackles, S3 heart sound, or significant weight gain from fluid. Patients already on IV diuretics may qualify but not if they've had more than two doses before screening.

Inclusion Criteria

I am scheduled to receive IV diuretics during my first day in the hospital.

The doctor thinks you have more than 10 pounds of extra fluid in your body, or you have a previous weight that the doctor knows you should be at.

I was diagnosed with Acute Heart Failure in the Emergency Department.

Exclusion Criteria

You have very low or high levels of certain minerals in your blood that haven't been treated.

Lack of informed consent

I am not taking medications that can harm my hearing.

Trial Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive protocolized diuretic therapy guided by urinary sodium or structured usual care

14 days

Daily assessments

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

30 days

Extended Follow-up

Monitoring for long-term outcomes such as all-cause death and readmission

180 days

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Protocolized diuretic therapy (Diuretic)

Trial Overview This study tests a new way to use diuretics based on urine sodium levels against usual care in patients with acute heart failure. Participants are randomly assigned to either the test protocol or standard treatment after their initial emergency department evaluation.

Participant Groups

Group I: Protocolized spot urine sodium guided diuretic therapy Active Control 1 Intervention

Patients will have a spot urine sodium and urine creatinine obtained. The urine and creatinine results will be input into the diuretic calculator and the diuretic dose will be chosen based on daily goals for urine output and net negative fluid balance. Performed 3 times per day, diuretic dosing will be individualized based on the proportion of 24-hour diuresis achieved since the prior IV diuretic dose. Every 24 hours new goals for urine output and net negative fluid balance are established based on the study and treatment team's assessment of residual congestion until protocol completion.

Group II: Guideline-based care Active Control 1 Intervention

Patients will be placed on guideline-based diuretic dosing consistent with usual practice. The initial dose will be two times their home dose and will be subsequently adjusted by the treating team based on renal function and symptom severity. The treating team can increase or decrease the frequency and dose of diuretic based on urine output and clinical assessment. Patients in this arm also have urine collected 3 times per day by the bedside nurse to mirror the intervention arm.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

922

Recruited

939,000+

Jeffrey R. Balser

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Chief Executive Officer since 2009

MD and PhD from Vanderbilt University

Rick W. Wright

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Chief Medical Officer since 2023

MD from University of Missouri-Columbia

Findings from Research

This randomized clinical trial will evaluate the effectiveness of the Diuretic Treatment Algorithm (DTA) in managing heart failure patients, focusing on improving clinical stability and reducing hospital readmissions within 90 days, involving 270 participants in total.

Participants in the intervention group will receive tailored diuretic adjustments and weekly phone support for nonpharmacological management, while the control group will only have initial physician-guided adjustments, allowing for a comparison of outcomes between the two approaches.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of a diuretic adjustment algorithm and nonpharmacologic management in patients with heart failure: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Feijó, MK., Biolo, A., Ruschel, KB., et al.[2018]

In a study involving 310 patients with acute heart failure, natriuresis-guided diuretic therapy significantly increased urinary sodium excretion compared to standard care, indicating a potential benefit in monitoring treatment response.

However, despite improved natriuresis, there were no significant differences in clinical outcomes such as all-cause mortality or heart failure rehospitalization between the natriuresis-guided and standard care groups, suggesting that while the approach may enhance sodium excretion, it does not necessarily translate to better overall patient outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Natriuresis-guided diuretic therapy in acute heart failure: a pragmatic randomized trial. Ter Maaten, JM., Beldhuis, IE., van der Meer, P., et al.[2023]

Diuretic therapy is crucial in managing heart failure, with specific recommendations based on the severity of sodium retention, including the use of thiazide and loop diuretics combined with ACE inhibitors for optimal effectiveness.

Despite their importance, diuretics have not been as thoroughly studied as other heart failure treatments, highlighting the need for better assessment methods, such as sodium retention scores, to improve understanding of their role and limitations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Approaches to diuretic therapy and electrolyte imbalance in congestive heart failure. Cody, RJ., Pickworth, KK.[2007]

In a study of 22,239 emergency room patients, the use of diuretics was not associated with increased mortality within 28 days, indicating that diuretic therapy may not pose a significant risk in this context.

While certain diuretics like spironolactone, torasemide, and chlortalidone showed initial associations with mortality in univariate analysis, these associations did not hold in a multivariate model, suggesting that factors like age and creatinine levels are more critical risk factors for mortality.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Use of Diuretics is not associated with mortality in patients admitted to the emergency department: results from a cross-sectional study. Haider, DG., Lindner, G., Wolzt, M., et al.[2018]

In a study of 17,068 hospitalized patients, 13.9% received furosemide, primarily for congestive heart failure, indicating its common use in managing cardiovascular conditions.

While 10.1% of furosemide recipients experienced adverse reactions, serious life-threatening effects were rare, suggesting that furosemide is generally safe, especially when potassium supplements are used to mitigate hypokalemia.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Clinical toxicity of furosemide in hospitalized patients. A report from the Boston Collaborative Drug Surveillance Program. Greenblatt, DJ., Duhme, DW., Allen, MD., et al.[2019]

Diuretic therapy is essential for managing congestive heart failure (CHF) by helping to reduce salt and water retention, which alleviates congestive symptoms.

Combining diuretics, such as metolazone with furosemide, can enhance the effectiveness of treatment while also minimizing potential complications associated with diuretic use.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Diuretics in congestive heart failure. Sica, DA., Gehr, T.[2013]

In a study of 116 patients with acute decompensated heart failure, continuous infusion of furosemide combined with low-dose dopamine resulted in improved renal function, as indicated by lower creatinine levels and increased glomerular filtration rate, compared to intermittent bolus therapy.

Patients receiving continuous furosemide had shorter hospital stays and significantly lower readmission rates at 30 days, suggesting that this method is not only effective but also safer for renal health in heart failure management.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Continuous infusion of furosemide combined with low-dose dopamine compared to intermittent boluses in acutely decompensated heart failure is less nephrotoxic and carries a lower readmission at thirty days. Aziz, EF., Alviar, CL., Herzog, E., et al.[2018]

References

1. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of a diuretic adjustment algorithm and nonpharmacologic management in patients with heart failure: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. [2018]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Natriuresis-guided diuretic therapy in acute heart failure: a pragmatic randomized trial. [2023]

3. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Natriuresis-guided therapy in acute heart failure: rationale and design of the Pragmatic Urinary Sodium-based treatment algoritHm in Acute Heart Failure (PUSH-AHF) trial. [2022]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Flexible diuretic titration in chronic heart failure: where is the evidence? [2018]

5. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Approaches to diuretic therapy and electrolyte imbalance in congestive heart failure. [2007]

6. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Outcomes Associated With a Strategy of Adjuvant Metolazone or High-Dose Loop Diuretics in Acute Decompensated Heart Failure: A Propensity Analysis. [2022]

7. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Use of Diuretics is not associated with mortality in patients admitted to the emergency department: results from a cross-sectional study. [2018]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Clinical toxicity of furosemide in hospitalized patients. A report from the Boston Collaborative Drug Surveillance Program. [2019]

9. Italy pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Diuretic therapy in patients with congestive heart failure: an update]. [2012]

10. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Diuretics in congestive heart failure. [2013]

11. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Continuous infusion of furosemide combined with low-dose dopamine compared to intermittent boluses in acutely decompensated heart failure is less nephrotoxic and carries a lower readmission at thirty days. [2018]