Table 1 Patients' clinical characteristics

Age, years

63 (33 to 75)

61.5 (33 to 75)

56.8 (37 to 73)

Gender

3 male/

6 female

2 male

3 female

1 male

3 female

Infectious site:

   abdominal, n

5 (55.5%)

2

3

   lung, n

3 (33.3%)

1

2

   urinary, n

1 (11.1%)

1

0

Infectious agent demonstrated, n:

5 (55.6%)

3

2

   gram positive, n

2

1

1

   gram negative, n

3

2

1

APACHE II

27 (18 to 35)

25 (23 to 32)

27 (18 to 35)

Plasma cortisol level, μg/dL:

   basal

26.43 (13.4 to 61.5)

23.7 (26.85)

29.7 (34.78)

   30 minutes after Synacthen^®

34.7 (22.3 to 61.5)

35.5 (39.4)

31.6 (36.75)

   60 minutes after Synacthen^®

35.8 (22.5 to 61.5)

38.35 (40.98)

32.1 (37.05)

   Alive/dead, n

5 (55.5%)

4 (44.4%)