K. Tárnoky

EFFECT OF A WATER-SOLUBLE CORTICOSTEROID ANALOGUE IN EXPERIMENTAL HEMORRHAGIC SHOCK.

Summary The effect of 11β, 17α-dihydroxy-3,-20-dioxo 21-N (N′-methylpiperazinyl) 1,4-pregnadien hydrochloride, a water-soluble corticosteroid analogue, was investigated in hemorrhagic shock in dogs. In a dose of 15 mg./kg. the steroid raised considerably the blood pressure of the oligemic animals, improved their survival rate and decreased some metabolic changes characteristic of shock. In a dose of 7.5 mg./kg. the above effects were less; a dose of 1.5 mg./kg. does not significantly alter the course of the shock.

The role of histamine in the increased cardiac output in hyperdynamic endotoxemia

The role of histamine in the hyperdynamic circulatory response to endotoxin (ETX) was investigated in 32 anesthetized dogs by means of histamine H1- and H2-receptor blockade. A hyperdynamic circulation was elicited with a prolonged, slow infusion of a low dose of ETX, and hemodynamic parameters were examined in control and histamine receptor-blocked groups. The following groups were studied: Group ETX received a 2 h infusion of Escherichia coli 055:B5 endotoxin in a total dose of 13.75 μg/kg at a rate of 10 μg/kg for 45 min and then 5 μg/kg for 75 min. In addition to the same dose of ETX, Groups ETX+TPA and ETX + RAN received 0.5 mg/kg of the H1-blocker tripelennamine (TPA) or 2 mg/kg of the H2-blocker ranitidine (RAN), respectively. Infusion of ETX caused a moderate decrease in arterial pressure in Group ETX, whereas TPA but not RAN inhibited this pressure fall. The cardiac output (CO) increased by 41% above the baseline level in Group ETX. Both TPA and RAN prevented this rise in CO. The total peripheral resistance was considerably lowered by ETX, but this decrease was significantly attenuated in the TPA or RAN-treated groups. The heart rate rose significantly after ETX infusion and was unaffected by TPA or RAN. The stroke volume remained unchanged following ETX but was decreased both by TPA and by RAN. TPA or RAN, when given alone, did not affect any of the measured hemodynamic parameters. These experiments provide evidence of the participation of histamine in the hyperdynamic circulatory response in endotoxemia.

Effect of Corticosteroid Treatment on Lymph Oxygen Tension in Hemorrhagic Shock

Oxygen tension of thoracic duct lymph was measured continuously in dogs subjected to hemorrhagic shock. Compared to untreated controls, the group given during the development of the shock a single lar