Vasopressin and Corticosteroids in Septic Shock. Version 1.0

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Vasopressin and Corticosteroids in Septic Shock

• IRAS ID

  35725

• Contact name

  Anthony Gordon

• Sponsor organisation

  Imperial College London

• Eudract number

  2009-017636-41

• ISRCTN Number

  n/a

• Research summary

  Overwhelming infection leads to a drop in blood pressure. This results in poor blood flow to the kidney and other vital organs. It is a life-threatening condition and requires emergency treatment in an intensive care unit. Severe infections are becoming an increasing healthcare problem. It is the 10th most common cause of death in America and it is estimated that the UK spends about 700 million/year treating severe infections in patients in intensive care units. As well as antibiotics and intravenoufluds, adrenaline-type drugs are used to increase blood pressure. Although usually effective at restoring blood pressure these drugs have important side effects. Vasopressin and steroids are both naturally produced hormones that are released during times of stress. However when blood pressure drops due to infection, these compensatory mechanism often fail. Studies have shown that administering both of these drugs can help restore blood pressure and reduce the use of other adrenaline-type drugs. Recent studies found that vasopressin may be most effective if used earlier and for less severe drops in blood pressure. It may also be more effective if administered with steroids. We plan to investigate if steroids and vasopressin cross-react.

• REC name

  South Central - Oxford A Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  10/H0604/35

• Date of REC Opinion

  18 May 2010

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion