Table 2

Effects of corticosteroids versus placebo on different endpoints of severe community-acquired pneumonia studies

Reference

Mortality, percentage

Clinical course

Systemic inflammation

LOS, days

MODS

AB duration, days

Marik, et al. [21]

7.1 versus 18.8 (P = NS)

4.6 versus 4.3

N/A

N/A

Plasma TNF-α concentrations; no effect

Confalonieri, et al. [6]

0 versus 30 (P = 0.009)

10 versus 18 (P = 0.01)

0.3 versus 1.0 (P = 0.003)

N/A

Lower CRP levels at day 8 18 versus 34 mg/dL (P = 0.01)

Mikami, et al. [20]

6 versus 0 (P = 0.99)

11.3 versus 15.5 (P = 0.182)

N/A

8.5 versus 12.3 (P = 0.026)

CRP Faster normalization of CRP levels (7.6 versus 11.7 days; P = 0.02)

Garcia-Vidal, et al. [19]

OR, 0.287; 95% CI, 0.113 to 0.732

7.1 versus 13.8 (P = 0.005)

N/A

N/A

N/A

AB, antibiotic therapy; CI, confidence interval; CRP, C-reactive protein; LOS, length of stay; MODS, multiple organ dysfunction score; N/A, not available; NS, not significant; OR, odds ratio; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor-alpha.

Salluh et al. Critical Care 2008 12:R76   doi:10.1186/cc6922