Early Effects of Low Molecular Weight Heparin Therapy with Soft-Mist Inhaler for COVID-19-Induced Hypoxemia: A Phase IIb Trial.

Abstract

In COVID-19-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome, the lungs are incapable of filling with sufficient air, leading to hypoxemia that results in high mortality among hospitalized patients. In clinical trials, low-molecular-weight heparin was administered via a specially designed soft-mist inhaler device in an investigator initiated, single-center, open-label, phase-IIb clinical trial. Patients with evidently worse clinical presentations were classed as the "Device Group"; 40 patients were given low-molecular-weight heparin via a soft mist inhaler at a dose of 4000 IU per administration, twice a day. The Control Group, also made up of 40 patients, received the standard therapy. The predetermined severity of hypoxemia and the peripheral oxygen saturation of patients were measured on the 1st and 10th days of treatment. The improvement was particularly striking in cases of severe hypoxemia. In the 10-day treatment, low-molecular-weight heparin was shown to significantly improve breathing capability when delivered via a soft-mist inhaler.

• Authors: Mustafa Erelel, Mert Kaskal, Ozlem Akbal-Dagistan, Halim Issever, Ahmet Serhan Dagistanli, Hilal Balkanci, Merve Sinem Oguz, Aygun Qarayeva, Meltem Culha, Aybige Erturk, Nur Sena Basarir, Gokben Sahin, Ali Yagiz Uresin, Ahmet Ogul Araman, Alpay Medetalibeyoglu, Tufan Tukek, Mustafa Oral Oncul, Ayca Yildiz-Pekoz
• Journal: Pharmaceutics (Pharmaceutics) Vol. 13 Issue 11 (Oct 22 2021) ISSN: 1999-4923 [Print] Switzerland
• PMID: 34834183 (Publication Type: Journal Article)