Transcriptomic Signatures in Sepsis and a Differential Response to Steroids. From the VANISH Randomized Trial

What is it about?

Previous studies have demonstrated the benefit of treatment with steroids on reducing the duration of low blood pressure in patients with severe infections causing septic shock. However, there is conflicting evidence if this benefit translates into improved survival. We demonstrate that patients with septic shock can be divided into two groups based on the genes that are activated in response to sepsis. Steroids caused greater mortality if given to one of these groups but not the other. This could account for discrepancies in previous studies and could provide a way to identify those patients who are most likely to benefit from this treatment.

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