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Prevention of myocardial depression in experimental hemorrhagic shock by pretreatment with hydrocortisone
Insights
Hydrocortisone pretreatment effectively prevented myocardial depression in dogs experiencing hemorrhagic shock. This intervention maintained cardiac function, unlike in untreated control groups.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Pharmacology
- Shock Research
Background:
- Hemorrhagic shock leads to myocardial depression, impairing cardiac contractility.
- The protective effects of corticosteroids on the myocardium during shock are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of hydrocortisone pretreatment in preventing myocardial depression induced by hemorrhagic shock.
Main Methods:
- Ten dogs underwent cannulation of coronary arteries.
- Hydrocortisone (4 mg/kg) was infused, followed by 90 minutes of hemorrhagic shock and retransfusion.
- Cardiac contractile force (CF) and its first derivative (df/dt) were measured in pretreated and control myocardial regions.
Main Results:
- The non-pretreated myocardial area showed a 50% reduction in CF and df/dt during shock.
- The hydrocortisone-pretreated area maintained pre-shock levels of CF and df/dt.
- Hydrocortisone prevented significant myocardial depression during hemorrhagic shock.
Conclusions:
- Pretreatment with hydrocortisone effectively protects the myocardium against the depressive effects of hemorrhagic shock.
- Hydrocortisone demonstrates a significant cardioprotective role in the context of shock-induced myocardial dysfunction.
Abstract:
The left anterior descending or left circumflex coronary artery was cannulated in ten dogs. 4 mg/kg hydrocortisone were slowly infused and the cannula was withdrawn. The dogs were then subjected to hemorrhagic shock for 90 minutes followed by retransfusion. The contractile force (CF) and its first derivative (df/dt) were measured in the pretreated (infused) area and in a control (non-perfused) area of the left ventricle. During the shock period, CF and df/dt in the non-pretreated area showed a 50% reduction in comparison to the pre-shock level, whereas the contractile force in the area that had been pretreated with hydrocortisone did not change when compared to the pre-shock period. This study shows that myocardial depression secondary to hemorrhagic shock can be effectively prevented by pretreatment with hydrocortisone.