Effect of corticosteroids on endocrine function in haemorrhagic shock

Haemodynamic and humoral responses to repeated hypotensive haemorrhage in conscious sheep

Haemodynamic and humoral responses to two subsequent hypotensive haemorrhages, separated by 3 hours and each followed by retransfusion, were studied in unanaesthetized sheep. Haemorrhage was induced by removal of blood from a jugular vein at a rate of 0.7 ml kg-1 min-1 until the mean systemic arterial pressure suddenly decreased by 35 mmHg or more. In addition to the mean systemic arterial pressure, the cardiac output, the mean pulmonary arterial pressure, the central venous pressure and the pulmonary capillary wedge pressure decreased in response to each haemorrhage. The recovery of the systemic and pulmonary arterial pressure was slower and/or less efficient after the second haemorrhage, due to a less pronounced increase of the vascular resistance. Relative bradycardia, in association with the abrupt fall of the mean systemic arterial pressure, was more apparent during the first haemorrhage. The plasma levels of vasopressin, renin activity and angiotensin II were increased by each blood removal, but the vasopressin response to the second haemorrhage was significantly reduced. The plasma noradrenaline concentration was slightly and transiently elevated only in response to the second haemorrhage. The concentration of neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity in plasma was unaffected by both haemorrhages. It is suggested that the reduced and delayed increase in the systemic vascular resistance, accompanied by impaired recovery of the arterial pressure, and the relative absence of 'bleeding bradycardia', during the second haemorrhage, were due to the diminished vasopressin response.

Neuroendocrine and cardiovascular responses to high-dose corticosteroid therapy in canine endotoxin shock

The neuroendocrine and cardiovascular responses to endotoxin administration and the effects of subsequent high-dose corticosteroid therapy have been investigated in dogs. Shock was induced in anaesthetised animals by a large bolus of E. coli endotoxin (5 mg/kg) followed by a continuous infusion (2 mg/kg per hour). One hour after induction of shock, the circulating volume was expanded using a colloidal gelatin solution. Fifteen minutes later, one group of five animals received a bolus of methylprednisolone sodium succinate 30 mg/kg, while a control group of five animals was given an equivalent volume of isotonic saline. The administration of endotoxin produced reductions in mean arterial pressure, cardiac index and left ventricular dp/dtmax, together with increases in systemic and pulmonary vascular resistances. These haemodynamic changes were associated with increases in arterial plasma levels of adrenaline, noradrenaline, cortisol, immunoreactive beta-endorphin and immunoreactive metenkephalin. Cardiovascular improvement followed volume replacement and was associated with reductions in circulating catecholamines. No significant haemodynamic or neuroendocrine changes were demonstrated in the 2 h following steroid therapy.

Effects of hydrocortisone, phenoxybenzamine and propranolol on the blood plasma levels of adrenaline and noradrenaline during hemorrhagic hypotension in the dog

The adrenergic aspects of the mechanism(s) of the vasodilating action of phenoxybenzamine and massive doses of hydrocortisone were studied in anesthetized dogs subjected to controlled hemorrhagic shock. During the predrug hypotension period with decreased cardiac output and heart rate, the plasma adrenaline and noradrenaline levels were both increased. Phenoxybenzamine injected alone augmented the cardiac output and heart rate and reduced the plasma adrenaline without changing the plasma noradrenaline concentration. However, if the adrenergic alpha-receptor blocker was administered in combination with massive doses of hydrocortisone, the degree of vasodilation increased further with a concomitant increase in the concentrations of the two plasma catecholamines. Thus there seems to be no clear-cut relationship between hemodynamic changes and plasma catecholamines. The present findings illustrate the extreme complexity of plasma catecholamine kinetics during hypovolemic shock.

The sympathetic response to profound hypothermia and circulatory arrest in infants

It has been suggested that the increased incidence of ventricular arrhythmias recognized below 30 degrees C might be catecholamine mediated. Elevate catecholamine concentrations have been reported in experimentally induced hypothermia in animals. Plasma concentrations of epinephrine and norepinephrine were measured during profound hypothermia and total circulatory arrest in infants under one year of age undergoing surgical correction of congenital cardiac defects. There was no significant change in either epinephrine or norepinephrine levels during surface cooling to 28 degrees C. Circulatory arrest and exsanguination at 18 degrees C were not associated with a rise in catecholamine levels. However, there was a striking rise in the levels of both epinephrine and norepinephrine with the recommencement of bypass and rewarming. The mean plasma norepinephrine concentration rose from 466 pg/ml (SE +/- 81) at circulatory arrest to 4543 pg/ml (SE +/- 2058) on rewarming bypass (p less than 0.02), while the mean plasma epinephrine concentration rose from 218 pg/ml (SE +/- 54) at circulatory arrest to 3724 pg/ml (SE +/- 1064) on rewarming bypass (p less than 0.02). The plasma catecholamine concentrations fell once cardiopulmonary bypass was discontinued, when the infant's temperature was 37 degrees C. It would, therefore, appear unlikely that the ventricular irritability recognized below 30 degrees C is due to catecholamine excess. The accumulation of catecholamines and/or metabolic products in the infants during circulatory arrest with their subsequent release into the circulation during rewarming may account for the elevation of catecholamine levels during rewarming bypass.