Steroid Therapy likely to benefit Sepsis Patients
by admin ~ June 9th, 2009.
In a recent interview, Andrew Jones, MD, of the department of intensive care, Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Hospital, London, United Kingdom, said that complete reliance on ACTH (Adrenocorticotropic Hormone) for treating sepsis may eliminate patients who could have gained from steroids.
At the 33rd Critical Care Congress, it was revealed that the measurement of baseline cortisol appears to be a noteworthy factor in the identification of sepsis patients who may have gained from introduction of the steroid therapy.
From Docguide.com:
Dr. Jones and colleagues analyzed medical records of 97 patients who underwent ACTH stimulation followed by hydrocortisone treatment during an 8-month period. Hydrocortisone was infused at 200 mg/24 hours.
The investigators identified the patients’ ACTH non-responder (NR)/responder (R) status as well as vasopressor status on initiation of steroids and at 24 and 48 hours.
Considering only response to ACTH stimulation, significant reductions in vasopressor dose was seen in both NR and R groups at 24 (NR: P < .01; R: P = .01) and 48 hours (NR: P < .01; R: P < .01) after the introduction of hydrocortisone. There were no differences in vasopressor levels between the groups at any time.
However, when baseline cortisol level was considered (< or > 25 mcg/dL), again significant reductions in vasopressor levels were seen in both groups, he said.
Moreover, at 24 and 48 hours after the initiation of hydrocortisone, noradrenaline levels were lower in subjects whose baseline cortisol was < 25 mcg/dL (P = .02; P = .01).
These findings have been welcomed by all parts of the medical fraternity and it appears that patients who have been fighting long against sepsis finally can heave a sigh of relief. The findings have given strength to many previous findings that revealed that steroid therapy, in a way or two, can be helpful for the treatment of sepsis patients over a period of time.
Category: Anabolic Steroids | Tags: adrenocorticotropic hormone, sepsis, steroid therapy, steroids