Indomethacin treatment following baboon endotoxin shock improves survival.

Baboons treated with one or two doses of indomethacin (1.5 mg/kg) after shock from endotoxin were randomly compared to untreated controls in an LD73 E coli endotoxin (6 mg/kg) model. Survival, systemic and pulmonary arterial pressures, cardiac output, white blood cell and platelet counts, and blood gases were determined. Baboons receiving indomethacin had a significantly (P less than 0.05) better survival at 72 hours than did the controls. Circulatory function was improved with indomethacin treatment; however, white blood cell and platelet counts were similar. Arterial oxygen tension was significantly (P less than 0.02) better with indomethacin treatment. The mechanism by which indomethacin improves the survival in baboon endotoxin shock may be related to its effect on circulatory function.