Induced hypernatremia in patients with moderate-to-severe ARDS: a randomized controlled study

BACKGROUND: Induced hypernatremia and hyperosmolarity is protective in animal models of lung injury. We hypothesized that increasing and maintaining plasma sodium between 145 and 150 mmol/l in patients with moderate-to-severe ARDS would be safe and will reduce lung injury. This was a prospective randomized feasibility study in moderate-to-severe ARDS, comparing standard care with intravenous hypertonic saline to achieve and maintain plasma sodium between 145 and 150 mmol/l for 7 days (HTS group). Both groups of patients were managed with lung protective ventilation and conservative fluid management. The primary outcome was 1-point reduction in lung injury score (LIS) or successful extubation by day 7. RESULTS: Forty patients were randomized with 20 in each group. Baseline characteristics of severity of illness were well balanced. Patients in the HTS group had higher plasma sodium levels during the first 7 days after randomization when compared with the control group (p = 0.04). Seventy five percent (15/20) of patients in the HTS group were extubated or had ≥ 1-point reduction in LIS compared with 35% (7/20) in the control group (p = 0.02). There was also a decrease in length of mechanical ventilation and hospital length of stay in the HTS group. CONCLUSION: We have shown clinical improvement in patients with moderate-to-severe ARDS following induced hypernatremia, suggesting that administration of hypertonic saline is a safe and feasible intervention in patients with moderate-to-severe ARDS. This suggests progress to a phase II study. Clinical Trial Registration Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12615001282572) SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40635-021-00399-3.