Role of desmopressin in the treatment of a case of septic shock refractory to catecholamines

Minerva Anestesiol. 2002 Nov;68(11):855-7, 858-9.
[Article in English, Italian]

Abstract

The authors describe a case of septic shock refractory to high-dose catecholamines after adequate volemic filling, rapidly corrected with the administration of desmopressin at a dose of 0.02 U/min. There are, in the literature, several cases of septic shock refractory to high-dose catecholamines successfully treated with arginine-vasopressin, a selective V1 agonist. This agent can potentially induce coronary vasoconstriction and presents a very difficult weaning, that imposes a slow reduction of the infusion amount. On the contrary, desmopressin does not present those adverse effects and is able to maintain a high renal blood flow, for its prevalent action on V2 instead of V1 receptors.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Catecholamines / therapeutic use*
  • Deamino Arginine Vasopressin / adverse effects
  • Deamino Arginine Vasopressin / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Resistance
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / adverse effects
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Shock, Septic / drug therapy*

Substances

  • Catecholamines
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Deamino Arginine Vasopressin