Journal of critical care
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Journal of critical care · Feb 2014
The relationship between lactate and thiamine levels in patients with diabetic ketoacidosis.
Thiamine functions as an important cofactor in aerobic metabolism and thiamine deficiency can contribute to lactic acidosis. Although increased rates of thiamine deficiency have been described in diabetic outpatients, this phenomenon has not been studied in relation to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). In the present study, we hypothesize that thiamine deficiency is associated with elevated lactate in patients with DKA. ⋯ Patients with DKA had a high prevalence of thiamine deficiency. Thiamine levels were inversely related to lactate levels among patients with DKA. A study of thiamine supplementation in DKA is warranted.
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Journal of critical care · Feb 2014
ReviewVasoplegia in septic shock: Do we really fight the right enemy?
Vasoplegia is a key factor for the death of patients with septic shock in intensive care unit owing to persistent and irreversible hypotension. Impairment of vascular reactivity has been attributed to a combination of endothelial injury, arginine-vasopressin system dysfunction, release of other vasodilatory inflammatory mediators, and muscle hyperpolarizaton. ⋯ However, inhibition of nitric oxide synthase only partially restores the endotoxin-induced vascular hyporeactivity. The aim of this review is to discuss in detail the recent suggested alternative mechanisms of vasoplegia and to briefly outline the current therapeutic strategies and the novel therapeutic options based on those mechanisms.