Renal effects of low-dose dopamine in patients with sepsis syndrome or septic shock treated with catecholamines.

Abstract

To evaluate the renal effects of low-dose dopamine in patients with sepsis syndrome or septic shock treated with catecholamines. Prospective, clinical study using sequential periods. A 12-bed surgical intensive care unit in a university hospital. 14 patients with sepsis syndrome and 15 patients with septic shock treated with exogenous catecholamines were studied. They had no diuretic treatment. Two periods of 2 h each with and without 2 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 of dopamine infusion. Hemodynamic and renal data were obtained at the end of each period. Measurements were repeated after 48 h of dopamine infusion in patients with sepsis syndrome. All data were evaluated by the Wilcoxon rank test. In patients with sepsis syndrome, diuresis and creatinine clearance increased significantly by 100% and 60%, respectively, during low-dose dopamine infusion without any change in systemic hemodynamics. The renal response to dopamine decreased significantly after 48 h of dopamine infusion (P < 0.01). In patients with septic shock treated with catecholamines, no variation of either systemic hemodynamics or renal function was noted during low-dose dopamine infusion. The renal effects of low-dose dopamine in patients with sepsis syndrome decrease with time. No renal effect of low-dose dopamine was observed in patients with septic shock treated with catecholamines. These findings suggest a desensitization of renal dopaminergic receptors.