Cardiorespiratory patterns in viral septicemia

Viral infections are known to produce hypotension and shock, but the cardiorespiratory patterns associated with viral septic shock have not been described. The clinical course of nine patients who died from overwhelming cytomegalovirus sepsis was reviewed. Viral septicemia was associated with increased cardiac index, decreased systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI), and elevated oxygen delivery. This pattern appeared during early and late stages of shock. In contrast to bacterial sepsis and endotoxemia, the pulmonary vascular resistance index (PVRI) was normal. These results indicate that overwhelming viral infection can produce shock associated with a high cardiac output, low peripheral resistance state similar to that seen with bacterial shock. Relative sparing of the pulmonary circulation in viral shock is consistent with the absence of endotoxemia in these patients.