Corticosteroid Therapy in Neonatal Septic Shock-Do We Prevent Death?

Corticosteroid use in neonatal hypotension: A survey of Canadian neonatologists

OBJECTIVE

To assess prescribing practices and perspectives regarding the use of corticosteroids in the management of neonatal hypotension.

METHODS

Cross-sectional questionnaire-based electronic survey of neonatologists (n = 206) practicing at tertiary neonatal intensive care units across 30 academic centres in Canada.

RESULTS

The overall response rate was 33% (72/206), with a completion rate was 94%. Most (48/72, 64%) worked in a unit that covered both inborn and outborn infants, and 53% (37/70) worked in units with >100 very low birth weight infants admitted annually. Among the 72 respondents, 39% use a loading dose, of whom most (57%) use 2 mg/kg. Dosing ranges were variable, most using either 0.5 mg/kg or 1 mg/kg, q6h. Among the 56% (40/72) of neonatologists who reported measuring cortisol before initiation of hydrocortisone, cut-offs for initiation of hydrocortisone varied from <100 to <500 nmol/L, most of whom (48%) used <100 nmol/L. Of 71 respondents, 92% (65) indicated that a randomized control trial examining the use of corticosteroids in neonatal hypotension is needed, of whom 52% (37) indicated that the intervention group should receiving hydrocortisone after one vasopressor/inotrope.

CONCLUSIONS

This survey provides insight into the prescribing practices of tertiary neonatologists with regards to the use of corticosteroids in neonatal hypotension. While corticosteroids are frequently prescribed, there is variability in the indication, dosing, and duration of corticosteroid use. The findings from this survey can be used to inform further research, including a clinical trial, regarding the practice in the management of neonatal hypotension.

Corticosteroid response predicts bronchopulmonary dysplasia status at 36 weeks in preterm infants treated with dexamethasone: A pilot study

IMPORTANCE

A major barrier to therapeutic development in neonates is a lack of standardized drug response measures that can be used as clinical trial endpoints. The ability to quantify treatment response in a way that aligns with relevant downstream outcomes may be useful as a surrogate marker for new therapies, such as those for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).

OBJECTIVE

To construct a measure of clinical response to dexamethasone that was well aligned with the incidence of severe BPD or death at 36 weeks' postmenstrual age.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

PARTICIPANTS

Infants treated with dexamethasone for developing BPD between 2010 and 2020.

MAIN OUTCOME(S) AND MEASURE(S)

Two models were built based on demographics, changes in ventilatory support, and partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO₂ ) after dexamethasone administration. An ordinal logistic regression and regularized binary logistic model for the composite outcome were used to associate response level to BPD outcomes defined by both the 2017 BPD Collaborative and 2018 Neonatal Research Network definitions.

RESULTS

Ninety-five infants were treated with dexamethasone before 36 weeks. Compared to the baseline support and demographic data at the time of treatment, changes in ventilatory support improved ordinal model sensitivity and specificity. For the binary classification, BPD incidence was well aligned with risk levels, increasing from 16% to 59%.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Incorporation of response variables as measured by changes in ventilatory parameters and pCO₂ following dexamethasone administration were associated with downstream outcomes. Incorporating drug response phenotype into a BPD model may enable more rapid development of future therapeutics.

Hemodynamic dysfunction in neonatal sepsis

Cardiovascular disturbances are a frequent occurrence in neonatal sepsis. Preterm and term infants are particularly vulnerable due to the unique features of their cardiovascular function and reserve, compared to older children and adults. The clinical manifestations of neonatal sepsis are a product of the variable inflammatory pathways involved (warm vs. cold shock physiology), developmental state of the cardiovascular system, and hormonal responses. Targeted neonatal echocardiography has played an important role in advancing our knowledge, may help delineate specific hemodynamic phenotypes in real-time, and supports an individualized physiology-based management of sepsis-associated cardiovascular dysfunction. IMPACT: Cardiovascular dysfunction is a common sequela of sepsis. This review aims to highlight the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in hemodynamic disturbance in neonatal sepsis, provide insights from targeted neonatal echocardiography-based clinical studies, and suggest its potential incorporation in day-to-day management.

Diagnostic Value of Assessment of Serum Cortisol, Hepcidin and Thyroid Hormones Levels in Neonates with Late-Onset Sepsis

Neonatal sepsis is a clinical syndrome characterized by symptoms and signs of infection in the first twenty-eight days of life. Serum thyroid, cortisol and hepcidin are affected by neonatal sepsis. ; Aim of the Work: The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic value of serum thyroid hormones including free triiodothyronine (free TT3) and free tetraiodothyronine (free TT4), serum cortisol and hepcidin levels through comparison of their concentrations between normal neonates and neonates with high probable late-onset sepsis. ; Patients and Methods: This case-control study was carried out on 40 neonates with suspected high probable late-onset neonatal sepsis based on clinical and laboratory finding who were admitted to NICU of Pediatric Department, Tanta University, Egypt in the period from April 2017 to May 2019 (group I) and 40 healthy neonates matched in age and sex as a control group (group II). For patients and controls, blood culture, highly sensitive C-reactive protein (H-s CRP), serum hepcidin, serum cortisol and thyroid hormones levels including free TT3 and free TT4 were assessed. ; Results: There were no significant differences between studied groups regarding weight, gestational age, sex and mode of delivery. H-s CRP, serum cortisol and hepcidin were significantly higher in group I than group II while serum-free TT3 and free TT4 were significantly lower in group I compared with controls (group II). There was significantly lower H-s CRP, serum hepcidin and cortisol and significantly higher serum-free TT3 and free TT4 in group I after antibiotic therapy compared to the same group before treatment while there were no significant differences between group I after antibiotic therapy and control group (group II) regarding the same parameters. There was a significant positive correlation between H-s CRP and serum hepcidin and cortisol in group I while there was a significant negative correlation between H-s CRP and free TT3 and free TT4. ROC curve of specificity and sensitivity of H-s CRP, serum hepcidin, cortisol, free TT3 and free TT4 in the prediction of neonatal sepsis shows that serum hepcidin had the highest sensitivity and specificity with 95% and 90% respectively followed by serum cortisol, H-s CRP, free TT3 and lastly free TT4. ; Conclusion and Recommendations: Neonates with high probable sepsis had significantly higher serum cortisol and hepcidin and significantly lower free TT3 and free TT4 compared with healthy neonates. These findings may draw our attention about the use of these markers in the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis which can help in early treatment and subsequently better prognosis.

Hydrocortisone Improves Oxygenation Index and Systolic Blood Pressure in Term Infants With Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension

Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) is an essential cause for hypoxic respiratory failure with significant morbidity and mortality in term and near-term neonates. Hydrocortisone has been shown to decrease oxygen dependency and pulmonary hypertension in neonates with meconium aspiration syndrome and animal studies, respectively. We hypothesize that hydrocortisone will improve oxygenation in term and near-term infants with pulmonary hypertension. We performed a retrospective chart review of all infant with PPHN who received intravenous hydrocortisone therapy as a rescue for severe PPHN. Clinical response was objectively measured using, oxygenation index (OI), PaO2/FiO2 ratio, and inotrope score before, during, and after the hydrocortisone course. We found that hydrocortisone administration resulted in significant improvement of systolic blood pressure, OI, and PaO2/FiO2. In conclusion, hydrocortisone increased systolic blood pressure and improved oxygenation in term and near-term infants with persistent pulmonary hypertension. Prospective randomized trials are required to evaluate these findings further.

Transient hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and hypertension associated with hydrocortisone in preterm infant: A case report

RATIONALE

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a heterogeneous, usually familial disorder of heart muscle. The hypertrophic form of cardiomyopathy is frequently genetic, or as part of several neuromuscular disorders. In neonates, especially prematurity, HCM could also be secondary to corticosteroid treatment.

PATIENT CONCERNS

We reported here a 34 weeks gestational age preterm infant presented with profound cardiomegaly after multiple doses of hydrocortisone used to treat blood pressure instability associated with septic shock and persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN).

DIAGNOSIS

Patient presented auscultation of a grade III/IV harsh systolic ejection murmur from day 14, which was absent before. Profound cardiomegaly was indicated at chest film at day 30. Echocardiography showed severe thickening of the IVS (13.8 mm, z score = 8.29) and mild thickening of the posterior left ventricular wall (LVPW, 6 mm).

INTERVENTIONS

Propranolol and captopril were started along with supportive care. The patient was also admitted to NICU for further treatment with 24-hour Holter electrocardiographic monitoring.

OUTCOMES

A reversible course was observed without left ventricular outflow tract obstruction nor arrhythmias within 4 weeks.

LESSONS

The risk/benefit ratio must be carefully considered when corticosteroids are used in prematurity. Monitors such as echocardiography and electrocardiograph should be conducted in order to guide cardiovascular management. Systematic surveys of the incidence of cardiac complications in a larger population of preterm infant treated with corticosteroid are needed in the future.

The Association of Hydrocortisone Dosage on Mortality in Infants Born Extremely Premature

OBJECTIVE

To characterize common dosing strategies and to investigate the association between hydrocortisone dosage and in-hospital mortality in infants born extremely premature.

STUDY DESIGN

We performed a retrospective review of a cohort of infants born ≤30 weeks' gestational age from 2010 to 2016 from the Pediatrix Clinical Data Warehouse who received hydrocortisone in the first 14 postnatal days. Infants were divided by initial hydrocortisone dosage (high: >2 mg/kg/d vs low: ≤2 mg/kg/d). Baseline characteristics and medication coexposures were compared and mortality was evaluated in a multivariable analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 1427 infants were included, 733 with high dosage (51%) and 694 with low dosage (49%). The groups were similar with regard to baseline characteristics. Infants in the high-dosage group had significantly more exposure to any vasopressors (89% vs 84%, P < .001) and greater mortality (50% vs 23%, P < .001) vs the low-dosage group. High dosage of hydrocortisone was associated independently with death (aOR 3.27, 95% CI 2.47-4.34, P < .001) in a multivariable regression analysis including propensity scoring for dosage and other covariates. When the cohort was split into quartiles by dosage, mortality was lower in the lower-dosage quartiles compared with the higher quartiles (mortality range 13%-50%).

CONCLUSIONS

In this retrospective analysis of a large sample of infants born premature, increased initial hydrocortisone dosage was associated independently with increased mortality. Trials to assess the impact of hydrocortisone dosage in this population are needed.