Effects of Anisodamine on Sublingual Microcirculation and Vascular Waterfall Phenomenon in Patients With Septic Shock

Summary

This prospective, multicenter, single-arm, open-label interventional pilot study aims to evaluate the short-term physiological effects of intravenous anisodamine on sublingual microcirculation and vascular-waterfall parameters in adult patients with septic shock.

Eligible patients will have septic shock according to Sepsis-3 criteria, will require norepinephrine support after adequate fluid resuscitation, and will be receiving invasive mechanical ventilation and PiCCO-based hemodynamic monitoring. After baseline assessment, participants will receive intravenous anisodamine according to the study protocol. Anisodamine will be administered as a loading dose of 0.5 mg/kg within 3 minutes, with a minimum dose of 20 mg and a maximum dose of 40 mg, followed by continuous infusion at 0.02-0.1 mg/kg/hour, with a maximum total daily dose of 200 mg.

Sublingual microcirculatory variables, including microvascular flow index, perfused vessel density, proportion of perfused vessels, and heterogeneity index, as well as vascular-waterfall parameters, including estimated critical closing pressure, estimated mean systemic filling pressure, and the Pcc-Pmsf gradient, will be measured at baseline, 3 hours, and 6 hours after initiation of anisodamine. Systemic hemodynamic, perfusion, vasopressor, PiCCO-derived variables, and safety outcomes will also be collected.

The primary objective is to characterize immediate changes in sublingual microcirculation and vascular-waterfall physiology after anisodamine administration and to provide preliminary data for future controlled studies.

Conditions

• Septic Shock
• Sepsis
• Critical Illness

Interventions

DRUG

Anisodamine intravenous infusion

Anisodamine will be administered as an intravenous loading dose of 0.5 mg/kg within 3 minutes, with a minimum dose of 20 mg and a maximum dose of 40 mg, followed by continuous intravenous infusion at 0.02-0.1 mg/kg/hour. The maximum total daily dose will be 200 mg. The maintenance dose may be adjusted according to microcirculatory status, serum lactate level, capillary refill time, mean arterial pressure, heart rate, PiCCO-derived hemodynamic variables, vasopressor requirement, and adverse effects. Dose reduction, temporary interruption, or discontinuation is permitted for safety reasons, including clinically significant hypotension, excessive tachycardia, new-onset or worsening arrhythmia, prolonged QT interval, suspected myocardial ischemia, mental status changes, urinary retention, ileus, or other clinically significant adverse events. The actual dose, infusion duration, and reasons for dose adjustment or discontinuation will be recorded.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University

  collaborator OTHER

• First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

NA

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

85 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-08-01

Primary Completion

2027-12-01

Completion

2027-12-30

Countries

• China

Study Locations