High doses of corticosteroids in the treatment of septic shock.

High doses of corticosteroids are reported to be beneficial in the treatment of septic shock in many animal species, e.g. dog, rat and rabbit. Recent findings in baboons subjected to E. coli shock indicate that early treatment with a combination of antibiotics and steroids strongly enhance survival rate. In clinical studies the protective effects of steroids are more ambiguous, however. In part this may be explained by variations in the amount of steroids used or by the fact that in some studies the steroid is administered late in shock. The dose recommended, 30 mg/kg bw of methylprednisolone or an equivalent amount of another glucocorticoid given once or twice, is based on animal as well as clinical documentation.