Effect of steroids on the cardiac output and renal changes of bacteremia

The effects of methyl prednisolone pretreatment in dogs prior to a bacterial infusion were measured in relation to cardiac output, blood pressure, intrarenal blood flow, and glomerular filtration rate. In dogs not pretreated with steroid, cardiac output fell 61.1 per cent 30 min postbacterial infusion and remained depressed for the balance of the experiment. Pretreated animals showed a similar 61 per cent depression in cardiac output immediately following bacterial infusion, but then experienced recovery of cardiac output and blood pressure to levels not significantly different from controls at the conclusion of the experiment. Changes in outer cortical bloodflow and glomerular filtration rate were not affected by steroid pretreatment. Based on the above data, the author concludes that the salutary effect of steroid pretreatment on cardiovascular dynamics occurs independently of changes in renal function.