Effect of low-dose glucocorticoids in septic shock / 中华急诊医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study retrospectively the effects of low-dose glucocorticoids in outcomeof septic shock.Method The present stray was carried out by analysis of septic shock patients treated with norepinephrine or dopamine.A total of 46 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of septic shock admitted from January 2000 to October 2006 were divided into two groups(1)ghcocorticoids treatment group(n=22),treated with glucocorticoids in addition to conventional treatment from November 2002 to October 2006;(2)conlrol group(n =24),only treated with routine treatment from January 2000 to October 2002.The differences in outcome were compared between the two groups.Results The duration of of vasopressor support was significantly shorter in treatment group com0~ed with control group.The percentage of shock reversal at 7 days was higher in treatment group than that in control group(72.73%vs.41.67%,P=0.034).Furthermore,a reduction in C-reactive protein(CRP)indicated inhibition of inflammatory response due to the effect of glucocorticoids in treatment group within 48-72 hours from admission to ICU(20.05±4.06 mg/dl vs.23.55±4.93 mg/dl,P=0.015).Therefore,APACHE Ⅱ score on 3rd day was significantly lower in treatment group than that in control group(16.76±4.87 vs.21.45±4.02,P=0.001).However,there were no statistical signifieances in the duration of mechanical ventilation,the length of ICU stay,the incidence of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome(MODS)and hospital-mortality between the two groups(P＞0.05).Conclusions Tmatmeut with low-dose gheocorticoids could effectively accelerate the recovery from refractory septic shock and the early withdrawal of vasopressor.It seems to be associated with the reduced production of CRP,suggesting the effects of low-dose glucocorticoids on both stabilization of hemodynamics and inhibition of inflammatory response.The beneficial effects of low-dose steroids regimens on long-term outconm of patients with septic shock have not determined.