Table 2

Clinical trials of low-dose vasopressin in vasodilatory shock states

Reference

Year

Trial

n

Patients

Findings

[4]

1997

Case series

5

Septic shock

A, B, C

[3]

1997

Matched cohort

19

Septic shock

A, B, D in septic group

12

Cardiogenic shock

[5]

1999

RCT

10

Septic shock – trauma

A, B

[2]

2000

RCT

24

Septic shock

A, B, C, D

[94]

2001

Retrospective

60

Septic and postcardiotomy shock

A, B, ↓ CI

[95]

2001

Prospective, case-controlled

16

Septic shock

A, B, C

[7]

1998

Retrospective case series

40

Postbypass vasodilatory shock

A, B, D

[6]

1997

RCT Placebo: N/S

10

Vasodilatory shock post-LVAD implant

A, B in treatment arm; D in all

[8]

1999

Case series

20

Vasodilatory shock post-cardiac transplant

A, B

[9]

1999

Case series

11

Pediatric – vasodilatory shock postbypass

A, B, D

[10]

2000

Retrospective case series

50

Vasodilatory shock post-LVAD implantation

A, B

[69]

2002

Retrospective

41

Postcardiotomy shock

A, B

[11]

1999

Case series

10

Organ donors with vasodilatory shock A, D

[68]

2000

Case series

7

Milrinone – hypotension

A, B, C

Findings are classified as follows: A, increase in blood pressure; B, decrease or discontinuance of catecholamines; C, increase in urine output; and D, low plasma vasopressin levels in subjects. CI, cardiac index; LVAD, left ventricular assist device; N/S, normal saline; RCT, randomized controlled trial.

Holmes et al. Critical Care 2004 8:15   doi:10.1186/cc2338