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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2023;84(2):111-123.
doi: 10.3233/CH-221444.

Effects of hydrocortisone combined with vitamin C and vitamin B1 versus hydrocortisone alone on microcirculation in septic shock patients: A pilot study

Jinlong Wang  1 , Qianwen Song  1 , Shuhe Yang  1 , Haofei Wang  1 , Shanshan Meng  1 , Lili Huang  1 , Qing Li  1 , Jingyuan Xu  1 , Jianfeng Xie  1 , Yingzi Huang  1
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Effects of hydrocortisone combined with vitamin C and vitamin B1 versus hydrocortisone alone on microcirculation in septic shock patients: A pilot study

Jinlong Wang et al. Clin Hemorheol Microcirc. 2023.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effects of hydrocortisone combined with vitamin C and vitamin B1 versus hydrocortisone on sublingual microcirculation in septic shock patients.

Methods: This pilot study enrolled septic shock patients admitted to the ICU of a tertiary teaching hospital from February 2019 to January 2020. We randomly assigned the enrolled patients to the treatment group (hydrocortisone combined with vitamin C and vitamin B1 added to standard care) and the control group (hydrocortisone alone added to standard care) in a 1 : 1 ratio. The primary outcome was perfused small vascular density (sPVD) monitored by a sublingual microcirculation imaging system at 24 hours after treatment.

Results: Twelve patients in the treatment group and ten in the control group completed the study. The baseline characteristics were comparable between the groups. No statistically significant difference was found in the sPVD between the groups at baseline. The sPVD in the treatment group was significantly higher than that in the control group at 4 hours after treatment (mean difference, 7.042; 95% CI, 2.227-11.857; P = 0.009) and 24 hours after treatment (mean difference, 7.075; 95% CI, 2.390-11.759; P = 0.008).

Conclusions: Compared with hydrocortisone, hydrocortisone combined with vitamin C and vitamin B1 significantly improves microcirculation in septic shock patients.

Keywords: Septic shock; critical care; hydrocortisone; microcirculation; vitamin.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow diagram.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Effects of hydrocortisone combined with vitamin C and vitamin B1 versus hydrocortisone alone on microcirculation in septic shock patients. A shows the effect on sPVD. B shows the effect on sPPV. C shows the effect on sTVD. D shows the effect on MFI. sPVD, Perfused small vessel density; sPPV, Proportion of perfused small vessel; sTVD, Small vessel density; MFI, Microvascular flow index. The error bars indicates standard deviation. *Compared with the control group, P < 0.05.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Effects of hydrocortisone combined with vitamin C and Vitamin B1 versus hydrocortisone alone on renal perfusion in septic shock patients. A shows the effect on PI. B shows the effect on RBF. C shows the effect on TTP. D shows the effect on MTT. MTT, mean transit time; PI, peak intensity; RBF, regional blood flow; TTP, time to peak. The error bars indicates standard deviation. *Compared with the control group, P < 0.05.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Effect of hydrocortisone combined with vitamin C and Vitamin B1 versus hydrocortisone alone on lactate in septic shock patients. Boxplot indicates median (interquartile range) with maximum and minimum values. *Compared with the control group, P < 0.05.
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