Comparison of Outcomes Between Low and Standard Dose Intrapleural tPA for Pleural Infection
Status:
Not yet recruiting
Trial end date:
2027-12-31
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Objectives: A pilot study to compare the therapeutic and safety profiles between low(2.5mg)
and standard(10mg) doses of intrapleural tissue plasminogen activator(tPA) in uncontrolled
pleural infection. The study design will be tested for its trialability.
Hypothesis: 2.5mg tPA has comparable therapeutic efficacy and less bleeding complications to
10mg tPA.
Design and subjects: A pilot, single-centre, two-arm, double-blinded, randomized controlled
trial(RCT) which includes subjects with uncontrolled pleural infection, with follow-up till
90 days after hospital discharge.
Interventions: Recruited subjects will be randomized in 1:1 ratio to receive a maximum of 6
doses of intrapleural tPA starting at either 2.5mg or 10mg. A clinical decision is allowed at
the third dose to continue with the assigned dose or escalate to 10mg to complete the course
based on the clinical response, without breaking the blinding.
Main outcome measures: The primary outcome is survival at 90 days and without the need for
surgical intervention. Secondary outcomes include the need for additional pleural
interventions, number of decisions to choose 10mg intrapleural tPA at the third dose,
clinical and radiographic response after the treatment course, safety profiles especially
bleeding complications, and the number and reason for protocol violation.
Data analysis and expected results: Data will be analyzed on an intention-to-treat basis for
all randomized subjects. The clinical outcomes will be compared with a regression model built
to adjust for confounding covariates. The data on therapeutic efficacy and bleeding
complications will inform the power calculation of sample size in subsequent full-scale
multicentred RCT incorporating the current study design.