Steroids Might Benefit Critically Ill Patients with Suspected H1N1 Influenza

Patients with severe 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus infections who present with pneumonia might develop acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). In a case series of 13 consecutive patients (mean age, 39) with suspected H1N1 influenza, severe hypoxia requiring ventilator support, and clinical sepsis, researchers prospectively evaluated response to treatment with a combination of oseltamivir and corticosteroids in addition to empiric antibiotics administered on admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Patients with severe ARDS received methylprednisolone (1 mg/kg/day), and other patients received hydrocortisone (300 mg/day) for an average of 21 days. Most patients (62%) had vasopressor-dependent shock.

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