The following has to do with a condition seen in the intensive care units of all hospitals. The condition is something called sepsis and septic shock. Generally, sepsis and septic shock occur in the face of serious infections and cause the patient to have extremely low blood pressure and multiple organ system failures. Patients with sepsis and septic shock have a high mortality rate. Worldwide sepsis and septic shock has a mortality rate of 50% to 60%, especially in poorly developed countries. In the US the mortality rate varies, but is at least 25%. If patients survive the episode of sepsis, they are frequently left with lasting complications and they have a high 5 year mortality rate.
Many protocols and treatment strategies have evolved to help patients with sepsis, but what has been lacking is a more effective treatment plan and one that does not require expensive medications. This is important when we consider the impact of sepsis in third world countries.
Treatment plans to date included medications to raise blood pressure and drugs like hydrocortisone to control inflammation. Recently, based on previous data, high doses of intravenous Vitamin C, along with a B vitamin called thiamine, combined with hydrocortisone was found to dramatically improve the outcomes in patients with sepsis and septic shock. The metabolic interplay between Vitamin C and thiamine is responsible for the results. This study reduced the mortality in the study group to a little over 8%. This study may be a life changing observation.
