Adjunctive sepsis therapy with aminophylline (STAP): a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Sepsis is a serious disease caused by infection. Aminophylline has anti-asthma and anti-inflammatory effects. We aimed to explore the safety and effect of aminophylline in sepsis. METHODS: We conducted a clinical randomized controlled trial involving 100 patients diagnosed with sepsis within 48 h after intensive care unit (ICU) admission in two sites. All patients were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive standard therapy with or without aminophylline. The primary clinical outcome was all-cause mortality at 28 days. RESULTS: From September 27, 2018 to February 12, 2020, we screened 277 septic patients and eventually enrolled 100 patients, with 50 assigned to the aminophylline group and 50 to the usual-care group. At 28 days, 7 of 50 patients (14.0%) in the aminophylline group had died, compared with 16 of 50 (32.0%) in the usual-care group (P = 0.032). Cox regression showed that the aminophylline group had a lower hazard of death (hazard ratio = 0.312, 95% confidence interval: 0.129–0.753). Compared with the usual-care group, patients in the aminophylline group had a longer survival time (P = 0.039 by the log-rank test). The effects of aminophylline on vasopressor dose, oxygenation index, and sequential organ failure assessment score were time-dependent with treatment. There were no significant differences in total hospitalization days, ICU hospitalization days, and rates of serious adverse events (all P > 0.05). No adverse events were observed in the trial. CONCLUSIONS: Aminophylline as an adjunct therapy could significantly reduce the risk of death and prolong the survival time of patients with sepsis. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR.org.cn, ChiCTR1800019173.