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Study on the Effectiveness of High-Dose Vitamin C for Patients with Shock After Cardiac Arrest

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What is this trial about?

A plain-language summary of the goals, design and what participants do

This clinical trial is focused on studying the effects of high-dose vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, in patients who have experienced a cardiac arrest and are in shock afterward. Cardiac arrest is a serious condition where the heart suddenly stops beating, and shock is a state where the body is not getting enough blood flow. The trial aims to see if vitamin C can help reduce the need for medications called vasopressors, which are used to increase blood pressure, within the first three days after the cardiac arrest.

Participants in the study will receive vitamin C through an intravenous (IV) injection, which means it is given directly into a vein. The study will compare the effects of vitamin C with standard treatments, which may include other medications like dobutamine, epinephrine (also known as adrenaline), noradrenaline (also known as norepinephrine), and thiamine hydrochloride (vitamin B1). Some participants may receive a placebo instead of vitamin C. The study will monitor how quickly patients can stop using vasopressors and will also look at other outcomes, such as survival rates and neurological health, over a period of up to 28 days.

The purpose of this study is to determine if early treatment with high-dose vitamin C can improve recovery in patients who have suffered a cardiac arrest and are experiencing shock. The trial will help researchers understand if vitamin C can be a beneficial addition to the current standard treatments for this condition.

The research process

The trial runs in 5 steps – from screening to follow-up. Each step says what happens and what the team monitors.

  1. Step 1

    Joining the trial

    Upon joining the trial, you will be informed about the study's purpose and procedures. You will be asked to provide consent to participate in the trial.

  2. Step 2

    Initial assessment

    An initial assessment will be conducted to confirm eligibility. This includes checking if you are still comatose with a Glasgow coma scale score of less than 8, and if you have experienced an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) with a return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) in less than 60 minutes.

    You must be receiving a continuous infusion of norepinephrine or epinephrine at a rate of at least 0.2 micrograms per kilogram per hour to maintain a mean arterial pressure of at least 65 mmHg.

  3. Step 3

    Treatment administration

    You will receive a high-dose of vitamin C intravenously. This is a solution for injection administered through an IV.

    Other medications you may receive include dobutamine, epinephrine, noradrenaline tartrate, and thiamine hydrochloride. These are also administered as solutions for injection or infusion.

  4. Step 4

    Monitoring and follow-up

    Your response to the treatment will be closely monitored. The primary goal is to assess the reduction in the need for vasopressors within the first 3 days after the cardiac arrest.

    Secondary assessments include monitoring the incidence of death by refractory shock within 7 days, neurological outcomes at day 28, the maximum dose of vasopressors within 3 days, changes in organ function scores, and arterial lactate levels at day 3.

  5. Step 5

    Completion of trial

    The trial is expected to conclude by May 1, 2025. Your participation will contribute to understanding the efficacy of high-dose vitamin C in treating post-cardiac arrest shock.

Who can join the trial?

5 criteria

  • Patients must be unconscious (Glasgow coma scale less than 8). The Glasgow coma scale is a way to measure how awake and responsive a person is.
  • Patients must have experienced an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) that is believed to be caused by heart problems, with a return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) in less than 60 minutes. ROSC means the heart started beating again on its own.
  • Patients must be receiving a continuous infusion of norepinephrine or epinephrine at a dose of at least 0.2 micrograms per kilogram per hour, within 4 hours after the cardiac arrest, for at least 30 minutes per hour. This is to keep the mean arterial pressure (MAP) at or above 65 mmHg. MAP is a measure of the average blood pressure in a person's arteries during one cardiac cycle.
  • Both male and female patients can participate.
  • Patients of all age groups are eligible.

Who cannot join the trial?

8 criteria

  • Patients who have had a **cardiac arrest** cannot participate. A cardiac arrest is when the heart suddenly stops beating.
  • Patients who are not within the specified age range cannot participate. The age range for this study is from 18 to 65 years old.
  • Patients who are not able to give their own consent cannot participate. This means if someone cannot understand the study and agree to join on their own, they cannot be part of it.
  • Patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding cannot participate.
  • Patients who have a known allergy to **vitamin C** cannot participate. Vitamin C is a nutrient found in various foods and sold as a dietary supplement.
  • Patients who are currently participating in another clinical trial cannot participate.
  • Patients with severe kidney problems cannot participate. The kidneys are organs that help filter waste from the blood.
  • Patients with a history of certain types of cancer cannot participate.
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Investigated drugs

Vitamin C is being tested in this clinical trial. It is a vitamin that is usually found in fruits and vegetables. In this study, it is given in high doses through an IV, which means it goes directly into the bloodstream. The goal is to see if it can help people who have had a heart attack and are in shock by reducing their need for other medications that help maintain blood pressure. The researchers want to find out if this high-dose vitamin C can help patients recover better in the first few days after their heart attack.

What is already known about the treatment

Vitamin C – This medication is administered intravenously, meaning it is given directly into a vein through an IV. Currently, high-dose vitamin C is being studied in clinical trials to determine its effectiveness in treating shock following cardiac arrest. The main therapeutic use being investigated is its potential to reduce the need for medications that support blood pressure in these patients. At the molecular level, vitamin C is thought to work by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, which can help improve blood flow and heart function. It is classified as a vitamin and antioxidant in pharmacology.

Investigated diseases

Cardiac Arrest – Cardiac arrest is a sudden loss of heart function, leading to a cessation of blood flow to the body's organs. It occurs when the heart's electrical system malfunctions, causing an irregular heartbeat or arrhythmia. This condition can happen unexpectedly and requires immediate medical attention. During cardiac arrest, the heart stops pumping blood, which can lead to a loss of consciousness and absence of pulse. If not treated promptly, it can result in severe damage to the brain and other vital organs due to lack of oxygen. The progression of cardiac arrest is rapid, and it can occur within minutes, necessitating urgent intervention to restore normal heart function.
Trial detailsLast updated 2 Oct 2026
Age18+ yearsPhasePhase IITrial ID2022-500717-64-00Protocol codeVICEPACEstimated enrolment234 patientsSponsorCentre Hospitalier Bethune Beuvry

sourced from the EU Clinical Trials Register and site verification

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On this site, “treatment” means an investigational medicine being studied in a clinical trial. Its safety and efficacy for the use being studied have not yet been confirmed, some participants may receive a placebo or a comparator medicine, and taking part does not guarantee any health benefit. The decision to take part is made by the doctor at the research site. This site is for information only and does not replace medical advice.

This service is not affiliated with the European Commission, the EMA, or the official CTIS system. Most information comes from publicly available international clinical-trial registries, supplemented by data from academic sites, national regulators and commercial sponsors. On this site, “treatment” and “therapy” mean a medicine being tested in a clinical trial. Its safety and effectiveness in the use being studied are not yet confirmed, some participants may receive a placebo or a comparator, and taking part does not guarantee a health benefit. The doctor at the research site decides who can take part. This site provides information, not medical advice. Certain content and visual elements on this website have been generated or enhanced using artificial intelligence (AI).