OTHER
Titrated weaning of vasopressin.
The titrated group will follow the vasopressin weaning protocol used in the DOVSS study (reduction of 0.01 U/min per hour).
Weaning Approaches for Vasopressin in Sepsis
Status
Recruiting
Phase
Phase 3
Enrollment
82
Locations
1
Results
Not posted
Publications
12
Study summary
What the protocol is testing.
In this study, we aim to evaluate the incidence of hypotension during vasopressin weaning by comparing two methods - titrated reduction versus abrupt withdrawal - through the conduct of a randomized clinical trial.
Full detailed description
Catecholamine infusions are usually tapered gradually in a titrated manner. However, little is known about how to manage adjunctive therapies such as vasopressin. While catecholamines have a short half-life (2-3 minutes), vasopressin's half-life ranges from 10 to 20 minutes. Although endogenous vasopressin levels are depleted in the early phase of shock, they are restored during recovery. Given its pharmacokinetic profile and the endogenous dynamics across different phases of shock, the optimal approach to vasopressin withdrawal - whether titrated or abrupt - remains unclear. In 2021, a study was published comparing abrupt versus gradual vasopressin discontinuation. This was a retrospective observational study including 1,318 patients. Using ICU length of stay as the primary outcome, no significant difference was observed between groups (abrupt discontinuation: 7.9 days; gradual discontinuation: 7.3 days; p = 0.6). Similarly, there was no difference in the incidence of clinically significant hypotension (abrupt: 39.7%; gradual: 41.7%; p = 0.53). However, when stratifying patients based on whether catecholamine infusions were still ongoing at the time of vasopressin discontinuation, the results reversed in terms of ICU stay (abrupt: 9.2 days; gradual: 7.6 days), although this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.24). In 2023, another retrospective observational study was published comparing abrupt versus gradual vasopressin withdrawal, including 74 patients. No difference was found in the incidence of clinically significant hypotension (abrupt: 57.1%; gradual: 52.3%; p = 0.68), nor in ICU length of stay. It is important to note, however, that in this cohort only patients who had already discontinued catecholamines prior to vasopressin withdrawal were included.
Interventions
Treatment arms and agents.
OTHER
Abrupt weaning of vasopressin.
The abrupt group will discontinue the vasopressin infusion at the time of randomization, without dose titration.
Timeline
From registration to results.
First posted
Jul 16, 2025
Study start
Oct 1, 2025
Primary completion
Dec 31, 2027
Study completion
Oct 1, 2028
Results posted
Not reported
Registry updated
Jan 2, 2026
Outcomes
What the study measures.
Primary outcomes
Hypotension within the first 24 hours
Time frame · 24 hours
Incidence of hypotension with clinical repercussions within the first 24 hours after titrated reduction or abrupt withdrawal of vasopressin. Definition of hypotension with clinical repercussions: mean arterial pressure \< 60 mmHg, leading to: * administration of crystalloid/colloid bolus and/or * increase in norepinephrine dose and/or * reinitiation or increase in vasopressin dose.
Secondary outcomes
Hypotension stratified according to vasopressin duration
Time frame · 24 hours
Incidence of hypotension with clinical repercussions within the first 24 hours after titrated reduction or abrupt withdrawal of vasopressin, stratified according to vasopressin duration: \< 48 hours ≥ 48 hours Definition of hypotension with clinical repercussions: mean arterial pressure \< 60 mmHg, leading to: * administration of crystalloid/colloid bolus and/or * increase in norepinephrine dose and/or * reinitiation or increase in vasopressin dose.
Hypotension within the first hour
Time frame · First hour
Incidence of hypotension with clinical repercussions within the first hour after titrated reduction or abrupt withdrawal of vasopressin. Definition of hypotension with clinical repercussions: mean arterial pressure \< 60 mmHg, leading to: * administration of crystalloid/colloid bolus and/or * increase in norepinephrine dose and/or * reinitiation or increase in vasopressin dose.
Vasopressor-free days
Time frame · 7 days
Number of days a patient is alive and free of vasopressor between randomization and day 7. Non-survivors will be considered to have zero vasopressor-free days.
Vasopressin-free days
Time frame · 7 days
Number of days a patient is alive and free of vasopressin between randomization and day 7. Non-survivors will be considered to have zero vasopressin-free days.
Renal replacement therapy
Time frame · 7 days
Initiation of hemodialysis between randomization and day 7, excluding chronic dialysis patients.
Cardiac arrhythmias
Time frame · 7 days
Incidence of arrhythmias with hemodynamic consequences between randomization and day 7, defined as hemodynamic deterioration requiring electrical or chemical cardioversion.
ICU-free days
Time frame · 28 days
Number of days a patient is alive and outside the ICU between randomization and day 28. Non-survivors will be considered to have zero ICU-free days.
Ischemic events
Time frame · 28 days
Occurrence of mesenteric ischemia, ischemic stroke, digital ischemia and acute coronary syndrome between randomization and day 28.
All-cause mortality
Time frame · 28 days
All-cause mortality within 28 days after randomization.
Eligibility
Who can take part.
- Minimum age
- 18 Years
- Maximum age
- Not reported
- Sex
- ALL
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Age over 18 years * Admitted to the Intensive Care Unit * Patients with vasopressor dependent sepsis * Receiving combined norepinephrine and vasopressin therapy Exclusion Criteria: * Withdrawal/reduction of vasopressin related to a plan of treatment limitation or palliative care * Withdrawal/reduction of vasopressin associated with the initiation of adrenaline or any other vasopressor
Study locations
1 registered sites.
Brazil. Showing up to 24 locations stored in the fast local snapshot.
Hospital Nossa Senhora da Conceição
Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Publications
Results and literature.
PMID 35331049 ↗Murata J, Buckley M, Lehn J, Agarwal SK, Stevenson B, Martinez B, MacLaren R. Incidence of Hypotension Associated With Two Different Vasopressin Discontinuation Strategies in the Recovery Phase of Septic Shock. J Pharm Pract. 2023 Aug;36(4):830-838. doi: 10.1177/08971900221078270. Epub 2022 Mar 25.PMID 32842024 ↗Lam SW, Sacha GL, Duggal A, Reddy AJ, Bauer SR. Abrupt Discontinuation Versus Down-Titration of Vasopressin in Patients Recovering from Septic Shock. Shock. 2021 Feb 1;55(2):210-214. doi: 10.1097/SHK.0000000000001609.PMID 31958982 ↗Der-Nigoghossian C, Hammond DA, Ammar MA. Narrative Review of Controversies Involving Vasopressin Use in Septic Shock and Practical Considerations. Ann Pharmacother. 2020 Jul;54(7):706-714. doi: 10.1177/1060028020901521. Epub 2020 Jan 20.PMID 29784057 ↗Jeon K, Song JU, Chung CR, Yang JH, Suh GY. Incidence of hypotension according to the discontinuation order of vasopressors in the management of septic shock: a prospective randomized trial (DOVSS). Crit Care. 2018 May 21;22(1):131. doi: 10.1186/s13054-018-2034-9.PMID 29328496 ↗Sacha GL, Lam SW, Duggal A, Torbic H, Reddy AJ, Bauer SR. Hypotension Risk Based on Vasoactive Agent Discontinuation Order in Patients in the Recovery Phase of Septic Shock. Pharmacotherapy. 2018 Mar;38(3):319-326. doi: 10.1002/phar.2082. Epub 2018 Feb 8.PMID 30798676 ↗Hammond DA, Painter JT, Meena N. Incidence of Clinically Significant Hypotension Stratified by Vasopressin Duration. J Intensive Care Med. 2019 Jan;34(1):77-78. doi: 10.1177/0885066617745809. No abstract available.PMID 9054839 ↗Landry DW, Levin HR, Gallant EM, Ashton RC Jr, Seo S, D'Alessandro D, Oz MC, Oliver JA. Vasopressin deficiency contributes to the vasodilation of septic shock. Circulation. 1997 Mar 4;95(5):1122-5. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.95.5.1122.PMID 28750598 ↗Bissell BD, Magee C, Moran P, Bastin MLT, Flannery AH. Hemodynamic Instability Secondary to Vasopressin Withdrawal in Septic Shock. J Intensive Care Med. 2019 Sep;34(9):761-765. doi: 10.1177/0885066617716396. Epub 2017 Jul 28.PMID 19926252 ↗Bauer SR, Aloi JJ, Ahrens CL, Yeh JY, Culver DA, Reddy AJ. Discontinuation of vasopressin before norepinephrine increases the incidence of hypotension in patients recovering from septic shock: a retrospective cohort study. J Crit Care. 2010 Jun;25(2):362.e7-362.e11. doi: 10.1016/j.jcrc.2009.10.005.PMID 38240508 ↗De Backer D, Deutschman CS, Hellman J, Myatra SN, Ostermann M, Prescott HC, Talmor D, Antonelli M, Pontes Azevedo LC, Bauer SR, Kissoon N, Loeches IM, Nunnally M, Tissieres P, Vieillard-Baron A, Coopersmith CM; Surviving Sepsis Campaign Research Committee. Surviving Sepsis Campaign Research Priorities 2023. Crit Care Med. 2024 Feb 1;52(2):268-296. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000006135. Epub 2024 Jan 19.PMID 28861671 ↗Teboul JL, Duranteau J, Russell JA. Intensive care medicine in 2050: vasopressors in sepsis. Intensive Care Med. 2018 Jul;44(7):1130-1132. doi: 10.1007/s00134-017-4909-7. Epub 2017 Aug 31. No abstract available.PMID 36621622 ↗Leone M, Einav S, Antonucci E, Depret F, Lakbar I, Martin-Loeches I, Wieruszewski PM, Myatra SN, Khanna AK. Multimodal strategy to counteract vasodilation in septic shock. Anaesth Crit Care Pain Med. 2023 Jun;42(3):101193. doi: 10.1016/j.accpm.2023.101193. Epub 2023 Jan 5.
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