ASpirin as Treatment for ARDS (STAR)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
ASpirin as a Treatment for ARDS (STAR) trial: a randomised, double-blind, allocation concealed, placebo-controlled phase 2 single-centre trial.
IRAS ID
159663
Contact name
Danny Mc Auley
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust
Eudract number
2014-002564-32
Research summary
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) causes the lungs to fail due to the collection of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary oedema). ARDS is common in severely ill patients in Intensive Care Units and is associated with a up to 40% mortality and a high morbidity in those who survive. There is an impact on the carer and patient through their inability to return to full time employment as well as a large economic burden to the NHS. There is little evidence for effective drug (pharmacological) treatment for ARDS. Blood cells called platelets have increasingly been recognized to play a key role in the development of ARDS. There is increasing information that aspirin, a drug which is widely used to treat heart disease, might be important in treating ARDS. We plan to test if aspirin will help in the treatment of ARDS. To do this we will divide patients suffering from ARDS into two groups, one of which will get aspirin and the other a harmless dummy (or placebo) tablet who will then be followed up to determine if lung function improves. If effective this will lead to further research to determine if aspirin is effective in patients with ARDS. This project will also provide new information about mechanisms in the development of ARDS leading to other new treatments.
REC name
HSC REC A
REC reference
14/NI/1093
Date of REC Opinion
24 Oct 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion