Using methylene blue to treat severe septic shock
Official title: Exploratory Study on the Efficacy and Safety of Methylene Blue in Treating Severe Septic Shock Patients: A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Trial
Run by First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University · NCT06481410 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing if methylene blue can help people with severe septic shock survive better and improve their organ function compared to a placebo.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 488 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Hangzhou, Zhejiang) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | June 22, 2024 |
| Main results expected | December 31, 2027 |
| Study ends | December 31, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | October 21, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06481410 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 and older who meet the Sepsis 3.0 criteria for septic shock and require norepinephrine therapy.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have certain medical conditions such as G6PD deficiency may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This clinical trial investigates the efficacy and safety of methylene blue injection in patients suffering from severe septic shock. Participants will receive either methylene blue or a placebo, and the study aims to determine if methylene blue can improve survival rates, reduce the need for vasopressors, and enhance organ function. Key measurements will include mortality rates and various hemodynamic parameters over a 28-day period. The trial will also monitor the duration of norepinephrine use and other critical health indicators.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could significantly improve survival rates and recovery outcomes for patients with severe septic shock.
How similar studies have gone: While the use of methylene blue in this context is being explored, similar studies have shown promise in treating septic shock with various interventions, making this approach both relevant and potentially impactful.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Age ≥ 18 years. 2. Meets the Sepsis 3.0 criteria for septic shock: patients with infection who, despite adequate fluid resuscitation, require vasopressor therapy to maintain a mean arterial pressure (MAP) of ≥ 65 mmHg and have a blood lactate concentration \> 2 mmol/L. 3. Diagnosed with septic shock and started on norepinephrine within 24 hours. 4. Requires a norepinephrine dose of ≥ 0.1 μg/kg/min to maintain a MAP of ≥ 65 mmHg. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Pregnant or breastfeeding women. 2. Individuals allergic to methylene blue or any components of the methylene blue injection. 3. Individuals with a personal or family history of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. 4. Patients with an expected survival time of less than 48 hours. 5. Patients who have been on norepinephrine for more than 24 hours.
Where it's running
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The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine
Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Wenqiao Yu, PhD
- Email: yuwenqiao1980@zju.edu.cn
- Phone: +86-18868787588
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
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Non-invasive hemodynamic guidance for sepsis care on medical wards
This trial tests whether guiding fluid and vasopressor therapy for sepsis using non-invasive hemodynamic measurements works better than standard care.
-
Personalized Fluid Resuscitation in the Emergency Department
This pilot test checks if a quick, non-invasive stroke-volume assessment can help ED doctors tailor IV fluids for septic patients with low blood pressure.
-
Discordance between capillary refill time and oxygen use in septic shock
This study tests whether some septic shock patients can have a normal capillary refill time but still lack tissue oxygen use, to see if that mismatch relates to 28-day survival.
-
Targeting upper-normal magnesium to see if norepinephrine needs drop in septic shock
This trial tests whether keeping magnesium levels at the upper end of normal can reduce the amount and duration of norepinephrine needed in adults with septic shock.
-
Cortisol Levels and Mortality in Septic Shock ICU Patients
This study tests whether cortisol levels can predict death or recovery in adults with sepsis or septic shock in the ICU.
-
oXiris hemofilter use for adults with septic shock and kidney failure
This study tests whether using the oXiris hemofilter during continuous dialysis helps adults with septic shock and acute kidney injury survive and stabilize faster.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.