Comparison of corticosteroids and prostaglandins in treatment of hemorrhagic shock.

The hemodynamic and microcirculatory effects of prostaglandin E1 and methylprednisolone sodium succinate were compared in a standard canine shock model. Prostaglandin significantly increased cardiac output and decreased total peripheral resistance when compared to control animals while steroids did not. There was no significant effect upon heart rate or arterial pressure by either drug. Methylprednisolone sodium succinate significantly increased arterial pH at the conclusion of the experiment and showed directional improvement in venous lactate and proteolytic activity. Prostaglandin significantly increased length of survival compared to both steroid and control infusion. It is concluded that prostaglandin and steroid have different hemodynamic effects in shock, that steroid protects microcirculatory flow more efficiently and that the prolongation of survival seen with prostaglandin infusion is not entirely due to its hemodynamic or lysosomal stabilizing effects.