The use of glucocorticoids (corticotherapy) in severe sepsis is one of the main controversial
issues in critical care medicine. These agents were commonly used to treat sepsis until the …

Introduction The aim of the study was to assess the prognostic importance of basal cortisol
concentrations and cortisol response to corticotropin, and to determine the effects of …

Rationale Steroid profiles in combination with a corticotropin stimulation test provide
information about steroidogenesis and its functional reserves in critically ill patients …

Background Multiple corticosteroids and treatment regimens have been used as adjuncts in
the treatment of septic shock. Qualitative and quantitative differences exist at cellular and …

Background There is controversy around the prescription of adjunct corticosteroids in
patients with fluid-refractory septic shock, and studies provide mixed results, showing …

Introduction Current low (stress) dose corticosteroid regimens may have therapeutic
advantage in severe sepsis and septic shock despite conflicting results from two landmark …

Introduction Use of corticosteroids for adrenal supplementation and attenuation of the
inflammatory and immune response is widespread in acute critical illness. The study …

Introduction Identification of risk factors for diminished cortisol response to
adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) in the critically ill could facilitate recognition of …

Introduction Adrenal failure (AF) is associated with increased mortality in septic patients.
Nonetheless, there is no agreement regarding the best diagnostic criteria for AF. We …

Introduction Adrenal insufficiency is common in critically ill patients and affects their
prognosis, but little is known about how adrenal function changes during prolonged critical …