Effect of low dose hydrocortisone in treatment of patients with septic shock

Objective To study the effects of low-dose hydrocortisone on inflammatory response in the patients with septic shock.Methods 80 cases with septic shock were divided randomly into the treatment group and the contrast group.Both groups were treated by normal medicine and the treatment group by low-dose hydrocortisone additional injection.Plasma levels of TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6,IL-10 were detected by ELISA respectively before(baseline)and at 4、12、24、48 h and 7 d after the treatment.APACHEⅡ score、PCT and cortisol were recorded before(baseline)and at 24、48 h and 7 d after the treatment.Mortality rate was compared on 28th day.Results The indexes of two groups were similar before treatment.TNF-α、IL-1β,IL-6 were significantly decreased compared with the baseline before the treatment(P0.05),while there was no significant change in the plasma levels of IL-10,APACHEⅡ score were significantly decreased after the treatment(P0.05).The levels of TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-6 at 4、12、24、48 h and 7 d after the treatment in treatment group were lower than those in control group at according time(P0.05),the 28day mortality rate in the treatment group was significantly lower than the contrast group(P0.05).While there were no association between cortisol levels and the 28day mortality rate.Conclusion Low-dose hydrocortisone can inhibit inflammatory response in patients with septic shock and improve the prognosis.