More than 1.7 million Americans develop sepsis every year and incidence of the condition is on the rise.

In severe cases, widespread inflammation leads to multiorgan failure and death.

Results of a new study hold the tantalizing prospect that, for some patients with sepsis, intravenous (IV) vitamin C could increase survival and shorten intensive care unit (ICU) stays.

The findings, published in JAMA, are from the CITRIS-ALI (Vitamin C Infusion for Treatment In Sepsis-Induced Acute Lung Injury) trial.

Cleveland Clinic was one of seven enrollment sites across the country chosen for the study because of the diversity of its patients and the number of cases of sepsis it sees.

Conducted from September 2014 to November 2017, CITRIS-ALI was the first randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter trial to assess vitamin C and its potential impact on sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

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