Carbon monoxide as medicine? tiny trial tests inhaled gas for lung failure

NCT ID NCT04870125

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

Summary

This early-phase trial tested whether inhaling low doses of carbon monoxide could be safe for people with severe lung injury caused by sepsis. Only 5 participants were enrolled before the study was stopped early. The goal was to see if a personalized dosing formula could safely achieve target carbon monoxide levels in the blood.

What this could mean

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

Active substance

inhaled carbon monoxide

What this could lead to

If it works, this could point toward a new way to treat severe lung inflammation in sepsis patients.

What could go wrong

This was a very early, small safety trial that was terminated early with only 5 participants. The results are too limited to draw any conclusions about effectiveness.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

acute respiratory distress syndrome adult acute respiratory distress syndrome infectious disease with sepsis pneumonia Sepsis

As listed by the trial registrant

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

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Brigham and Women's Hospital

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States

  • Duke University Hospital

    Durham, North Carolina, 27710, United States

  • Massachusetts General Hospital

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States

  • New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital

    Brooklyn, New York, 11215, United States

  • Washington University

    St Louis, Missouri, 63110, United States

  • Weill Cornell Medical College

    New York, New York, 10065, United States