Vitamin C in Thermal Injury: The Victory Trial

Burn injuries represent a significant civilian and military health problem, ranking the seventh most common cause of unintentional injury. Thermal injury has constituted 5-10 percent of combat casualties incidences are expected to increase during future conflicts. Burn injuries cause significant tissue damage, resulting in hypovolemic shock and significant systemic inflammation, typically exceeding the body's natural antioxidant defense mechanisms, leading to multi-organ dysfunction and increased mortality. Vitamin C reduces inflammation and oxidative stress. Vitamin C is an essential, water-soluble micronutrient, is inexpensive, readily available and safe. In this multicenter, double-blind, randomized controlled trial of 666 patients with severe burns, patients will receive Vitamin C (50 mg/kg every 6 hrs for 96 hours) or placebo. We hypothesize that high dose intravenous vitamin C given in the early postburn period, in comparison with placebo, will significantly reduce organ dysfunction (e.g. kidneys, lung, and heart), mortality, and hospital length of stay, as well as improve quality of life 6 months after burn injury. This international trial already recruited greater than 80 patients in 15 ICUs, has demonstrated to be feasible and safe and is expected to impact clinical practice to improve overall outcomes if burn injured patients worldwide.