Concomitant vasopressin and hydrocortisone therapy on short-term hemodynamic effects and vasopressor requirements in refractory septic shock.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the short-term hemodynamic effects as well as vasopressor requirements with concomitant vasopressin (AVP) and hydrocortisone (HCT) compared to either agent alone in refractory septic shock.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective, cohort study conducted in adult septic shock patients. Patients received continuous infusion AVP at 0.04units/min and/or HCT 200-300mg intravenous daily in divided doses for refractory septic shock. Refractory septic shock was defined as systolic or mean blood pressure (MAP) of <90mmHg or <70mmHg, respectively, despite fluid resuscitation and requiring norepinephrine.

RESULTS: A total of 300 patients were evaluated. The rate of achieving a "response" (norepinephrine dose reduction by ≥50% without any decrease in MAP) at 4h from baseline was significantly higher in patients receiving concomitant AVP/HCT (88.5%) compared to HCT alone (62.3%) or AVP alone (72.9%) (p=0.0005). The AVP/HCT group had higher "response" rates over the HCT and AVP monotherapy groups at 12 (p=0.052) and 24h (p=0.036). Multivariate regression showed combination therapy to be independently associated with response at 4h.

CONCLUSIONS: Concomitant AVP and HCT was associated with an immediate, additive catecholamine-sparing effect over either agent alone in patients with refractory septic shock.