.webp&w=384&q=75){kind=logo}
Loading, please wait...
Loading, please wait...
The HYPRESS randomised clinical trial evaluated continuous hydrocortisone in adults with severe sepsis who were not yet in septic shock. The clinical question was whether early corticosteroids could prevent progression to shock. Hydrocortisone did not significantly reduce the development of septic shock. Mortality outcomes were also not improved, while hyperglycaemia and muscle weakness were more frequent in the hydrocortisone group. The study is clinically useful because it demonstrates why a treatment supported in one phase of critical illness should not automatically be moved to an earlier phase without evidence. Steroids may have a role in refractory septic shock, but this trial did not support giving them routinely to patients with severe sepsis before shock develops. This fits CritiCARE's themes of evolving sepsis management and evidence-based corticosteroid use. For HCPs, the takeaway is simple: treatment timing matters. Before starting steroids, identify the clinical indication and the patient state rather than treating the presence of infection or organ dysfunction alone as sufficient justification. The trial also reinforces the need to balance potential haemodynamic benefit against metabolic and neuromuscular adverse effects.
Read summarized clinical updates, watch expert medical content, and earn CME certifications right from your smartphone.
Open your smartphone camera to scan and install.
The HYPRESS randomised clinical trial evaluated continuous hydrocortisone in adults with severe sepsis who were not yet in septic shock. The clinical question was whether early corticosteroids could prevent progression to shock. Hydrocortisone did not significantly reduce the development of septic shock. Mortality outcomes were also not improved, while hyperglycaemia and muscle weakness were more frequent in the hydrocortisone group. The study is clinically useful because it demonstrates why a treatment supported in one phase of critical illness should not automatically be moved to an earlier phase without evidence. Steroids may have a role in refractory septic shock, but this trial did not support giving them routinely to patients with severe sepsis before shock develops. This fits CritiCARE's themes of evolving sepsis management and evidence-based corticosteroid use. For HCPs, the takeaway is simple: treatment timing matters. Before starting steroids, identify the clinical indication and the patient state rather than treating the presence of infection or organ dysfunction alone as sufficient justification. The trial also reinforces the need to balance potential haemodynamic benefit against metabolic and neuromuscular adverse effects.
Today
The phase 3 ACACIA-HCM trial reveals that aficamten improves cardiac structure, diastolic relaxation, functional capacity, and symptom burden in symptomatic nonobstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, marking a major milestone in targeted myosin inhibition.
6 days back
A clinical study shows that automated breast ultrasound paired with artificial intelligence accurately classifies BIRADS 3-4 lesions, reaching 95% sensitivity and 79% specificity. This diagnostic advance promises to reduce unnecessary core needle biopsies and refine clinical workflows in breast imaging.
3 weeks back
Researchers have engineered freestanding hierarchical-porous BCZT thin films that resist cracking and enhance ultrasonic energy harvesting in soft tissue. Achieving high piezoelectric output and acoustic matching, this lead-free material offers transformative potential for implantable bioelectronics.
6 days back
A novel pathology-adaptive surface engineering strategy uses functionalized plasma polymer coatings to selectively modulate AGE adsorption, reducing oxidative stress and restoring bone formation in diabetic and aging microenvironments.
3 weeks back
A breakthrough study identifies the Klotho/PKCα/CUX1/SPARC/TGFβ-RII axis as a critical driver of podocyte mitochondrial injury and ferroptosis in diabetic kidney disease, unveiling promising molecular targets to halt renal disease progression.
6 days back
