Do Heart-Strengthening drugs actually help in shock? major trial aims to find out

NCT ID NCT05267886

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tests whether drugs that increase the heart's pumping ability (inotropes) benefit patients in cardiogenic shock, a life-threatening condition where the heart can't pump enough blood. About 346 critically ill adults will receive either dobutamine, milrinone, or a placebo (saline). The main goal is to see if these drugs reduce death or serious complications within the first 12 hours. After that, doctors can choose any treatment. The trial is double-blind, so neither patients nor doctors know who gets the real drug.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
Dobutamine or Milrinone (heart-pumping drugs)
What this could lead to
If it works, this could show that inotropes improve survival and reduce complications in cardiogenic shock, guiding standard care.
What could go wrong
This is a Phase 4 trial, but the drugs are already used in practice. The placebo group may worsen, and results may not apply to all shock types.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

cardiogenic shock Shock Shock, Cardiogenic

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Hamilton Health Sciences

    RECRUITING

    Hamilton, Ontario, L8L 2X2, Canada

  • Mayo Clinic

    NOT_YET_RECRUITING

    Rochester, Minnesota, 55905, United States

  • University of Ottawa Heart Institute

    RECRUITING

    Ottawa, Ontario, K1Y4W7, Canada

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