Massive doses of methylprednisolone (30 mg/kg) in man: immediate haemodynamic effects in "low output state"

Methylprednisolone, 30 mg/kg body weight, was given as an intravenous bolus injection to a total of 31 cardiosurgical patients. Measurements of left ventricular parameters showed no significant increase in dp/dtmax and no significant decrease in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure. There were no important changes in blood pressure, heart rate, cardiac index, stroke index and total peripheral resistance. During 'steady state' extracorporeal circulation no relevant vasodilating effect could be found. In comparison to a control-group there were no important differences in haemodynamic parameters. In cardio-surgical patients, --mainly functional class III--we were unable to demonstrate any gross cardiovascular effects of large doses of methylprednisolone.