Extra oxygen to help people with pulmonary embolism
Supplemental Oxygen for Pulmonary Embolism (SO-PE) - A Mechanistic Clinical Trial
Seeing if giving extra oxygen lowers pressure in the lungs and eases right‑heart strain for people with acute pulmonary embolism.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11159758 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you come to the MGH Emergency Department with an acute pulmonary embolism and signs of right‑sided heart strain, researchers may give you supplemental oxygen and perform bedside heart ultrasound. They will take blood samples for detailed metabolomic testing and measure lung artery pressure and right heart function. The team will also run parallel experiments in a validated pig model at Aarhus University to compare mechanisms and better understand how oxygen produces its effects.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults who present to the emergency department with acute pulmonary embolism and evidence of right ventricular dysfunction or elevated pulmonary artery pressure are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People with small pulmonary emboli without right heart strain, those already on maximal oxygen support, or those with contraindications to supplemental oxygen may not receive benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could show that a simple, widely available treatment (oxygen) rapidly lowers lung artery pressure and helps protect the heart during acute PE.
How similar studies have performed: In a validated porcine model, supplemental oxygen reduced pulmonary artery pressure by about 50%, but this mechanism and effect have not yet been shown in human patients.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kabrhel, Christopher — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Kabrhel, Christopher
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.