title: Effects of prolonged naloxone infusion in septic shock.
abstract: Fourteen patients suffering sixteen episodes of septic shock requiring inotrope and/or vasopressor support were randomised to receive a 30 micrograms/kg naloxone intravenous bolus followed by a 30 micrograms/kg/h infusion or an equivalent volume placebo bolus and infusion for 8-16 h in a double-blind study. pH and pulmonary wedge pressure were kept constant, and inotrope and/or vasopressor were titrated to maintain a preselected mean blood pressure. Inotrope/vasopressor requirements in the naloxone-treated group were significantly lower than those in the control group at 8 h (eight patients in each group, p less than 0.005) and at 16 h (five patients in each group, p less than 0.02). Late but significant improvements in stroke volume (p less than 0.02) and heart rate (p less than 0.05) were also noted in the eight naloxone-treated patients.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D009270:Naloxone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011669:Pulmonary Wedge Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D011897:Random Allocation; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D009270:Naloxone