The effect of steroids for shock on the immune response to tetanus toxoid

The effect of corticosteroids on the immune response after severe injury and hemorrhagic shock was studied in 88 patients, who received an average of 13 blood transfusions for injury and hemorrhagic shock, which caused the systolic blood pressure to be below 80 torr for an average of 29 minutes. The immune response to tetanus toxoid was tested in the postoperative period. Besides the administration of blood, crystalloid solution, and plasma for coagulation factor deficiency, 42 patients also received methyl-prednisolone 1 g during additional resuscitation followed by an average of 15 mg/kg given daily for the next 2 days. The total dose of methylprednisolone averaged 3.9 g. The two groups of patients were similar for resuscitation needs and for insult. The immune response to tetanus toxoid was not significantly different between the two groups of patients. These data show that a short-term bolus of massive steroids does not appear to alter, significantly, the immune mechanism following severe hemorrhagic shock.