Glucocorticoid Sensitivity Is Highly Variable in Critically Ill Patients With Septic Shock and Is Associated With Disease Severity*

Abstract

Patients with septic shock and controls do not differ in their median glucocorticoid sensitivity. However, patients exhibited a greater variability in glucocorticoid responsiveness and had evidence of association between increased sickness sensitivity and reduced glucocorticoid sensitivity. Sensitivity to glucocorticoids did not appear to be mediated by changes in the expression of the β variant of the glucocorticoid receptor or the 11-β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 isozyme.