Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38030548›Full record

ReviewBritish journal of anaesthesia2024

Glucocorticoids with or without fludrocortisone in septic shock: a narrative review from a biochemical and molecular perspective.

Gladness D Nethathe, Jeffrey Lipman, Ronald Anderson, Peter J Fuller, Charles Feldman

Open access · bronzeAbstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in British journal of anaesthesia, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
2.8field-weighted citation impact, top 8% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

9 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 14 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. [S3 guideline on sepsis-prevention, diagnosis, therapy, and follow-up care-update 2025].Medizinische Klinik, Intensivmedizin und Notfallmedizin · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 4 institutions in 3 countries.

Gladness D NethatheSchool of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Department of Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Academy of Critical Care, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. Electronic address: gladness.nethathe@wits.ac.za.
Jeffrey LipmanAcademy of Critical Care, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Jamieson Trauma Institute and Intensive Care Services, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Butterfield Street, Herston, Brisbane, 4029, QLD, Australia; Nimes University Hospital, University of Montpellier, Nimes, France.
Ronald AndersonDepartment of Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
Peter J FullerEndocrinology Unit, Monash Health, Centre for Endocrinology and Metabolism, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Charles FeldmanSchool of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
The University of Queensland · AUHudson Institute of Medical Research · AUUniversity of Pretoria · ZAUniversity of the Witwatersrand · ZA

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Two randomised controlled trials have reported a reduction in mortality when adjunctive hydrocortisone is administered in combination with fludrocortisone compared with placebo in septic shock. A third trial did not support this finding when hydrocortisone administered in combination with fludrocortisone was compared with hydrocortisone alone. The underlying mechanisms for this mortality benefit remain poorly understood. We review the clinical implications and potential mechanisms derived from laboratory and clinical data underlying the beneficial role of adjunctive fludrocortisone with hydrocortisone supplementation in septic shock. Factors including distinct biological effects of glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids, tissue-specific and mineralocorticoid receptor-independent effects of mineralocorticoids, and differences in downstream signalling pathways between mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid binding at the mineralocorticoid receptor could contribute to this interaction. Furthermore, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic disparities exist between aldosterone and its synthetic counterpart fludrocortisone, potentially influencing their effects. Pending publication of well-designed, randomised controlled trials, a molecular perspective offers valuable insights and guidance to help inform clinical strategies.

Indexed as

GlucocorticoidsShock, SepticFludrocortisoneHumansHydrocortisoneMineralocorticoidsReceptors, MineralocorticoidFludrocortisoneGlucocorticoidsHydrocortisoneMineralocorticoidsReceptors, Mineralocorticoidadrenal insufficiencycorticosteroid insufficiencycritical illnessglucocorticoidsmineralocorticoidsstress response

Identifiers

PMID38030548
PMCPMC10797514
OpenAlexW4389101664

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.