title: Biological and hemodynamic effects of low doses of fludrocortisone and hydrocortisone, alone or in combination, in healthy volunteers with hypoaldosteronism.
abstract: Low doses of hydrocortisone (HC) and fludrocortisone (FC) administered together improve the prognosis after septic shock; however, there continues to be disagreement about the utility of FC for this indication. The biological and hemodynamic effects of HC (50 mg intravenously) and FC (50 microg orally) were assessed in 12 healthy male volunteers with saline-induced hypoaldosteronism in a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind, crossover study performed according to a 2 x 2 factorial design. HC and FC significantly decreased urinary sodium and potassium levels (from -58% at 4 h to -28% at 10 h and from -35% at 8 h to -24% at 12 h, respectively) with additive effects. At 4 h after administration, HC significantly increased cardiac output (+14%), decreased systemic vascular resistances (-14%), and slightly increased heart rate (+4 beats/min), whereas FC had no hemodynamic effect. At doses used in septic shock, HC induced greater mineralocorticoid effect than FC did. HC also induced transient systemic hemodynamic effects, whereas FC did not. New studies are required to better define the optimal dose of FC in septic shock.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital, Rennes 1 University, Rennes, France.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Laviolle
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Le Maguet
authors.forename: M-C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Verdier
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Massart
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Donal
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lainé
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lavenu
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pape
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bellissant
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000097:blood; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005438:Fludrocortisone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006994:Hypoaldosteronism / Q000097:blood* / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D012083:Renin / Q000097:blood; D012964:Sodium; D014563:Urodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance / Q000187:drug effects; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001786:Blood Glucose; D000450:Aldosterone; D012964:Sodium; D012083:Renin; D005438:Fludrocortisone; D006854:Hydrocortisone