Lack of effect of ACTH in porcine Escherichia coli septic shock.

The cardiovascular and metabolic responses to treatment with ACTH(1-24) were investigated in a porcine model of septicaemia. Sixteen anaesthetised, instrumented animals were infused with live Escherichia coli over 2 hr. During the first hour of the infusion, significant reductions in cardiac index, mean arterial pressure, and pH were observed together with a significant increase in mixed venous blood lactate concentrations and packed cell volumes. ACTH(1-24) 160 micrograms kg-1, given 1 hr after starting the E. coli infusion (n = 8), had no significant effect on these haemodynamic or metabolic measurements when compared with the control group (n = 8). These results do not support the suggestion that intravenous ACTH(1-24) reverses cardiovascular depression in septicaemic shock.