title: Role of desmopressin in the treatment of a case of septic shock refractory to catecholamines.
abstract: The authors describe a case of septic shock refractory to high-dose catecholamines after adequate volemic filling, rapidly corrected with the administration of desmopressin at a dose of 0.02 U/min. There are, in the literature, several cases of septic shock refractory to high-dose catecholamines successfully treated with arginine-vasopressin, a selective V1 agonist. This agent can potentially induce coronary vasoconstriction and presents a very difficult weaning, that imposes a slow reduction of the infusion amount. On the contrary, desmopressin does not present those adverse effects and is able to maintain a high renal blood flow, for its prevalent action on V2 instead of V1 receptors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia and Resuscitation, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mignani
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Poleggi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pennisi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marchese
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003894:Deamino Arginine Vasopressin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004351:Drug Resistance; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D003894:Deamino Arginine Vasopressin