Prevention or amelioration of morphologic lesions in LD100 E coli-shocked baboons with steroid/antibiotic therapy.

We have documented the effectiveness of methylprednisolone sodium succinate (MPSS) and gentamicin sulfate (GS) therapy for LD100 E coli-induced shock in the baboon. We sequentially delayed initiation of MPSS infusion from 30 to 120 min and then to 240 min after onset of a 2-h E coli infusion. Treatment resulted in 100%, 85%, and 65% survival respectively. In this study we evaluated tissue taken at autopsy in the three MPSS/GS treatment studies including untreated baboons and those treated with GS only. When animals died (3-49 h) or were sacrificed (7-71 days), tissues were removed, coded, and prepared for histopathologic evaluation by light microscopy. On the basis of morphologic changes animals split into two groups: baboons with little or no tissue alterations (survivors), and those with multiple organ damage (nonsurvivors). Combinations of mild to massive congestion, edema, hemorrhage, fibrin thrombi, increased numbers of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs), and necrosis of the adrenal glands, liver, kidneys, lungs, and spleen of nonsurvivors were prevented or ameliorated in the MPSS/GS-treated surviving baboons. Data demonstrate the MPSS/GS therapy prevents or reverses the multiple organ damage and increases survival in lethal septic shock.