title: Randomized, placebo-controlled, double blinded trial of dexamethasone in African children with sepsis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of moderate dose dexamethasone administered before antibiotics on the outcome of African children with sepsis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The design was a randomized, double blinded, placebo-controlled trial of dexamethasone (0.2 mg/kg) vs. placebo given intravenously before antibiotic therapy. Patients were recruited from the patient populations at two missionary hospitals. Primary outcome variables were determined before analysis of data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-two children with sepsis were enrolled in the study. Treatment with dexamethasone was not associated with improved outcome for any of six outcome variables: survival to discharge (83%, dexamethasone group; 89%, placebo group); hemodynamic stability at 48 h (33%, dexamethasone group; 49%, placebo group); median length of hospital stay (11 days, dexamethasone group; 11 days, placebo group); normal at discharge (90%, dexamethasone group; 75%, placebo group); normal at follow-up (90%, dexamethasone group; 72%, placebo group); and afebrile at 48 to 72 h (61%, dexamethasone group; 44%, placebo group).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data indicate that a moderate dose of dexamethasone given before antibiotic therapy did not improve outcome in the pediatric patients with sepsis whom we studied.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, USA.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Slusher
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gbadero
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Howard
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lewison
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Giroir
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Toro
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Levin
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Holt
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: McCracken
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000349:Africa; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003906:Developing Countries; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D018805:Sepsis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D003907:Dexamethasone