In a prospective study, heart rate and mean arterial pressure were related to estimated blood loss in 34 consecutive patients aged 23-92 years during resuscitation from haemorrhagic shock. Eighteen patients with a blood loss of less than 31 (1.9 [0.9-3.0] l) (median and range), corresponding to 34 (16-46) % of estimated blood volume, had a heart rate of 83 (60-160) beats min-1 and a mean arterial pressure of 62 (35-73) mmHg. In 16 patients with a blood loss of more than 3 l (4.0 [3.3-5.0] l) corresponding to 89 (35-100) % of the estimated blood volume, heart rate was 120 (110-160) beats min-1 (P < 0.05) and mean arterial pressure 52 (0-70) mmHg (P < 0.05). Six patients died due to severe bleeding (3.1 [2.5-5.0] l) with a heart rate of 129 (110-160) beats min-1 and a mean arterial pressure of 40 (0-70) mmHg. It is concluded that reversible hypovolaemic shock is associated with a relatively low heart rate (approximately 80 beats min-1) and that tachycardia (approximately 120 beats min-1) is associated with profound bleeding. Hypovolaemic shock with tachycardia may represent a transition to an irreversible stage.