Efficacy of inhaled nebulised unfractionated heparin to prevent intubation or death in hospitalised patients with COVID-19: an investigator-initiated international meta-trial of randomised clinical studies.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Inhaled nebulised unfractionated heparin (UFH) has a strong rationale as a treatment for severe respiratory infections, including COVID-19, due to its antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and anti-coagulant properties, which may prevent viral entry, lung injury progression, and pulmonary thrombosis. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of inhaled nebulised UFH to prevent intubation or death in hospitalised COVID-19 patients.

Methods

In this prospective, a priori set up and defined, collaborative meta-trial of six randomised clinical studies, adult hospitalised but not intubated COVID-19 patients were randomly assigned to inhaled nebulised UFH on top of standard of care or standard of care alone. The dose and method of nebulisation was specific to each study. The primary out

SUBMITTER: van Haren FMP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12572793 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature