title: Corticosteroids in Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock: A Concise Review.
abstract: For decades, corticosteroids are proposed as adjuvant therapies for severe infections. Despite mounting evidence from randomized controlled trials, there is still an intense debate regarding the role of systemic low-dose corticosteroids as a part of the treatment of septic shock. In the present article, we review the current literature and detail aspects on the pathophysiologic rationale, the current evidence, actual practice, and future directions on this topic.
authors.affiliation: *D'Or Institute for Reasearch and Education, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil †PostGraduate Program in Internal Medicine, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ‡Polyvalent Intensive Care Unit, Hospital de Sao Francisco Xavier, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental, Lisbon, Portugal §NOVA Medical School, CEDOC, New University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Jorge I F
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Salluh
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Póvoa
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D056747:Immunomodulation / Q000187:drug effects; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018805:Sepsis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones