Clinical Trials Spotlight - CLOVERS

The Acute, Critical Care, Surgery and Transplant (ACCST) CTSU  is currently supporting the exciting new study, Crystalloid Liberal or Vasopressors Early Resuscitation in Sepsis (CLOVERS), led by Robert Hyzy, M.D., Medical Director of ACCST.

The CLOVERS study compares two methods of increasing blood pressure in patients with dangerously low blood pressure due to a suspected infection. One method is providing intravenous fluids to the patient and taking a drug such as adrenalin (called vasopressors); the other method is to use the drug first, and follow with fluids. The purpose of the study is to compare both treatment strategies on 90-day in-hospital mortality in patients with sepsis-induced hypotension.

More than 1.5 million people get sepsis each year in the United States, and 250,000 Americans die from severe sepsis each year. In fact, it is a leading cause of death in the United States and the most common cause of death among critically ill patients in non-coronary intensive care units (ICU). 

This trial will enroll up to 2,230 subjects from PETAL (Prevention & Early Treatment of Acute Lung Injury) network emergency rooms. Michigan Medicine is one of 12 Clinical Centers (CC) of the PETAL network, funded by NHLBI (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) to develop and conduct randomized controlled clinical trials to prevent ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome).

"On behalf of the ACCST CTSU and PETAL team, we are proud to take part in such a challenging trial that will provide guidance on best practice for delivering fluid resuscitation to patients with sepsis-induced hypotension or septic shock," said Barbara Munsey, Lead Administrator of ACCST.

Click here to learn more about the CLOVERS study.