Pro/con clinical debate: Are steroids useful in the management of patients with septic shock?

Decision-making in the intensive care unit is often very difficult. Although we are encouraged to make evidence-based decisions, this may be difficult for a number of reasons. To begin with, evidence may not exist to answer the clinical question. Second, when there is evidence it may not be applicable to the patient in question or the clinician may be reluctant to apply it to the patient based on a number of secondary issues such as costs, premorbid condition or possible complications. Finally, emotions are often highly charged when caring for patients that have a significant chance of death, and care-givers as well as families are frequently prepared to take chances on a therapy whose benefit is not entirely clear. Steroid use in septic shock is an example of a therapy that makes some sense but has conflicting support in the literature. In this issue of Critical Care Forum, the two sides of this often heated debate are brought to the forefront in an interesting format.


The scenario
Pro: steroids are useful in the management of septic shock Frank V Ritacca, Carmine Simone and Randy Wax Despite advances in providing care for patients with septic shock, mortality rates remain unacceptably high. Exogenous corticosteroids have potent anti-inflammatory effects and their use for modulation of the host response in septic shock has been debated for decades. Two metaanalyses have suggested that high-dose steroids are not beneficial in patients with septic shock [1,2]. These results should not be generalized to treatment with low-dose corticosteroids. We believe there are recent data showing that low-dose corticosteroids hasten discontinuation of vasopressors in refractory septic shock, and may improve outcome.
Demonstration of an intact hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis response has been associated with reduced mortality in septic shock [3]. Corticosteroids can regulate the synthesis and function of catecholamines and their receptors, which in turn control vascular tone and organ perfusion [4]. Proinflammatory cytokines released in sepsis alter steroid responsiveness, leading to the deleterious effects of catecholamine dysfunction and refractory hypotension [5]. Downregulation of catecholamine receptors occurs with prolonged use of exogenous catecholamines and this may be reversed with administration of low-dose steroids [6]. Restoring endogenous regulation of vasomotor tone would be desirable to preserve regional regulation of perfusion.
Three recent clinical trials have provided encouraging results for the use of corticosteroids in septic shock (Table 1). Patients were treated with corticosteroids at lower doses and for a longer interval than in previous trials. Bollaert et al. showed that patients receiving low-dose steroids had a significantly higher rate of shock reversal (stable blood pressure without fluid boluses or vasopressors) [7]. The treatment effect was present irrespective of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function as measured by an adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test.
Briegel et al. similarly found that low-dose corticosteroids could hasten independence from vasopressor support [8]. There were no trends suggesting treatment-related adverse events in either trial. Although no mortality benefits were found, increased rates of shock reversal may imply decreased resource use (e.g. shorter length of stay in the intensive care unit) and complications (e.g. catheter-related infections).
Data published in abstract form from a multicenter trial testing low-dose corticosteroid and mineralocorticoid support led to a relative risk reduction of almost 30% in patients with septic shock [9]. The survival benefit of combination therapy was significant only in patients with blunted response to ACTH stimulation. However, this may be due to a smaller number of patients in the normal response group.
Finally, one retrospective study suggests that low-dose corticosteroids may reduce post-traumatic stress disorder and improve health-related quality of life in survivors of septic shock [10].
Although exciting developments in targeted drug therapy for sepsis have occurred recently, supportive care remains key to maximizing survival in patients. We view appropriate supplementation of corticosteroids as part of the regimen of supportive care. Even if subsequent studies do not confirm a mortality reduction, 'fewer days of vasopressor dependence' may itself be an important outcome. Given that the patient described for this debate appears to have been adequately treated for infection, repair of sepsis-induced dysregulation of vasomotor tone using low-dose corticosteroids is reasonable and appropriate.

Katherine G Craig and Keith R Walley
The debate surrounding the use of corticosteroids in septic patients has continued for over 30 years. Two metaanalyses in the mid-1990s seemed to put an end to the controversy. The conclusions drawn from these works were that corticosteroids provided no benefit to patients with septic shock [2] and that corticosteroids may actually cause harm, as evidenced by a slight increase in overall mortality [1].

Frank V Ritacca, Carmine Simone and Randy Wax
Applying data from trials using high-dose steroids is inappropriate and leads to therapeutic nihilism. Life-saving therapy, such as low-dose beta-blockers in severe cardiomyopathy, met similar resistance because of poor experiences with identical drugs given in higher doses [18].
Levels of cortisol and responsiveness to ACTH stimulation in patients with sepsis vary considerably [19][20][21]. A normal corticotropin stimulation test result cannot exclude benefit of low-dose corticosteroids [7,22]. Although this patient is not 'most severely ill', catecholamine receptor effects may be more important than the immunomodulatory effects of this therapy [22]. This patient remains a candidate for low-dose corticosteroids.

Katherine G Craig and Keith R Walley
While the foundations of the pro/con debates are remarkably similar, the resulting recommendations are not. Dr Ritacca and colleagues suggest that "appropriate supplementation of corticosteroids [be] part of the regimen of supportive care".
There are several problems with this statement. First, with the level of evidence currently available it must be recognized that the use of steroids in sepsis, while promising, is still experimental, and should not be given the same status as routine measures of supportive care. Second, even if a physician makes a conscious decision to try steroids, there are again no data to suggest a dose or timing for 'appropriate supplementation'.
The debate has recently been re-opened by several small, prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled trials. A study by Bollaert et al., in which septic patients requiring catecholamines were randomized to receive hydrocortisone (100 mg intravenously three times a day for 5 days) or placebo, found a significant reduction in the time it took to reverse shock, and a trend towards improved survival [7]. While the results of this trial were impressive, care must be taken not to overinterpret the results; it was a small clinical trial with only about 20 patients in each arm, and there was a relatively high mortality rate in the placebo arm (63%) for patients with septic shock [11].
In a similar small trial by Briegel et al., septic shock patients were randomized to receive either a placebo or hydrocortisone (100 mg intravenous bolus), followed by continuous infusion until septic shock resolved [8]. The length of time for which vasopressor support was required was significantly reduced, and measures such as mean arterial pressure and systemic vascular resistance index were increased in patients treated with steroids. In addition, there were trends toward earlier reversal of organ dysfunction. There was not, however, a mortality difference between the two groups [8].
It may be germane to recognize that all benefit of immunomodulatory therapy in adequately powered, randomized, controlled trials is confined to the most severely ill [12][13][14][15]. This does not fit with the patient described in the aforementioned scenario.

Clinical case
In view of conflicting older, yet strong, evidence (that highdose steroids are not beneficial) and newer, yet preliminary, studies (that suggest low-dose steroids are beneficial), the question becomes one of whether steroid-induced reversal of vasopressor support confers any outcome benefits. Unfortunately, no definitive work has been published.
The patient described in the present scenario is improving in all aspects of organ failure, but remains catecholamine dependent. A thorough examination and review of his management needs to be conducted to ensure no reversible cause of hypotension can be determined. A corticotropin stimulation test should be performed and absolute adrenal insufficiency should be treated.
There is ongoing debate in the literature as to the usefulness of this corticotropin stimulation test in so-called 'relative adrenal insufficient' patients, although it may be of prognostic significance [16]. A recent study by Schroeder et al. found low basal plasma cortisol levels and diminished responses to corticotropin-releasing hormone in patients that died of septic shock as compared with those who survived [17]. Annane et al., however, found an elevated basal cortisol level (≥ 34 µg/dl) and a poor response to corticotropin (e.g. ≤ 9 µg/dl elevation at 30 or 60 min) to be a predictor of the poorest survival in patients with sepsis [3].
At this point in time there is not sufficient evidence to guide clinical practice. We therefore do not advocate use of steroids in this clinically improving patient without another indication. We must be cautious in our enthusiasm to try new therapies as history provides many examples of promising small clinical trials that have not held up to the test of time and larger, multicentered trials.
Much work remains to be carried out in this field. We urge restraint and recognition of the potential adverse side effects of, and lack of clear evidence for, steroid therapy in sepsis.