Abstract
This article summarizes the current knowledge on the benefit/risk profile from the use of low-dose corticosteroids and activated protein C in treating septic shock. Physicians should consider using low-dose corticosteroids and drotrecogin alpha activated in the treatment of patients who have vasopressor-dependent septic shock with persistent signs of hypoperfusion, organ dysfunction, or hypotension. The optimal timing for initiating these treatments is from 6 to 24 hours from onset of shock. When patients are receiving these drugs, physicians should systematically screen for superinfection and serious bleeding events.
Publication types
-
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
-
Review
MeSH terms
-
APACHE
-
Adrenal Cortex Hormones / adverse effects
-
Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use*
-
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
-
Drug Administration Schedule
-
Fibrinolytic Agents / adverse effects
-
Fibrinolytic Agents / therapeutic use*
-
Humans
-
Multicenter Studies as Topic
-
Multiple Organ Failure / drug therapy
-
Multiple Organ Failure / mortality
-
Protein C / adverse effects
-
Protein C / therapeutic use*
-
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
-
Recombinant Proteins / adverse effects
-
Recombinant Proteins / therapeutic use
-
Shock, Septic / drug therapy*
-
Shock, Septic / mortality
-
Survival Rate
Substances
-
Adrenal Cortex Hormones
-
Fibrinolytic Agents
-
Protein C
-
Recombinant Proteins
-
drotrecogin alfa activated