Critical Care

official impact factor 4.60

Review

Pro-Con Debate: Steroid use in ACTH non-responsive septic shock patients with high baseline cortisol levels

Djillali Annane1*, Eddy Fan2 and Margaret S Herridge3,2

Author Affiliations

1 Service de Réanimation, Hôpital Raymond Poincaré (AP-HP), Université de Versailles SQ, Garches, France

2 Interdepartmental Division of Critical Care Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

3 Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

For all author emails, please log on.

Critical Care 2006, 10:210 doi:10.1186/cc4856

Published: 5 April 2006

Abstract

Steroid use in critically ill, vasopressor-dependant, septic patients has gained increased acceptance in recent years with the publication of encouraging data. However, with renewed interest and/or attention comes increased debate and analysis. As a result, it is not surprising to find that there is still significant controversy with regards to the role of steroids in many patients. In this article, two expert groups debate the role of steroid use in a septic shock patient with arguably no clear evidence of adrenal insufficiency.