Steroid Hydrocortisone Alone May Not Cut Death Risk From Septic Shock: Study

Steroid Hydrocortisone Alone May Not Cut Death Risk From Septic Shock

A new study finds that while hydrocortisone on its own may not prevent death from sepsis, it can improve survival when combined with other steroids while eliminating the need for vasopressor drugs.

Vasopressor medications help raise blood pressure when it’s so low that you can’t get enough blood to your organs. Doctor often deliver these drugs via an IV.

“For the first time, the effects of hydrocortisone for the treatment of patients with septic shock could be studied by analyzing individual data from the main randomized trials published to date,” said researcher Dr. Romain Pirracchio, a professor of anesthesia at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).

“This study shows that if the effect of hydrocortisone on the mortality of septic shock is modest, this treatment makes it possible to spare the exposure of patients to vasopressor drugs and to prevent their complications,” he added in a UCSF news release. “The combination of fludrocortisone with hydrocortisone seems to provide a greater benefit in terms of survival.”