Effects of vasopressinergic receptor agonists on sublingual microcirculation in norepinephrine-dependent septic shock.

Introduction: The present study was designed to determine the effects of continuously infused norepinephrine (NE) plus (1) terlipressin (TP) or (2) arginine vasopressin (AVP) or (3) placebo on sublingual microcirculation in septic shock patients. The primary study end point was a difference of ≥ 20% in the microvascular flow index of small vessels among groups.

Methods: The design of the study was a prospective, randomized, double-blind clinical trial.

Short-term effects of terlipressin bolus infusion on sublingual microcirculatory blood flow during septic shock.

Purpose: Terlipressin bolus infusion may contribute to overshooting increases in systemic vascular resistance with concomitant reductions in systemic blood flow and oxygen delivery. Whether these effects negatively impact on microcirculatory perfusion is still not known. The objective of the present study was, therefore, to elucidate the effects of a single terlipressin bolus dose of 0.