title: Neuroendocrine and cardiovascular changes in septic shock and after cardiac surgery: effect of high-dose corticosteroid therapy.
abstract: Plasma levels of beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity (BLI) were similarly elevated in patients with septic shock (group A) and in normotensive subjects recovering from cardiac surgery (group B) (1231 +/- 483 pg ml-1 and 1,240 +/- 355 pg ml-1, respectively). In neither group was cardiac output reduced, but total peripheral resistance index (TPRI) was low in group A and low or normal in group B. Intravenous methylprednisolone (MP) 30 mg kg-1 variably suppressed BLI by a mean of only 30% in group A, while in group B, BLI usually rose and then fell following MP. In group A percentage changes in BLI were positively correlated with percentage changes in cardiac index (CI) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) (r = .83, P less than .01, r = .59, P less than .05 respectively). No such correlations were found in group B. These findings suggest that increases in circulating beta-endorphin are unlikely to be responsible for myocardial depression or hypotension in septic shock. ACTH levels were in general normal in group A but were consistently elevated in group B, although plasma cortisol was similarly elevated in both groups. Furthermore there was a good correlation between percentage changes in ACTH and BLI following MP in group B (r = .87, P less than .01) but not in group A. Possible explanations for these findings are discussed.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hinds
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Varley
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tomlin
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Rees
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000187:drug effects; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D004723:Endorphins / Q000097:blood*; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001615:beta-Endorphin
chemical_list: D004723:Endorphins; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D008775:Methylprednisolone