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BackgroundSepsis occurs when an infection is complicated by organ failure. Sepsis may be complicated by impaired corticosteroid metabolism. Thus, providing corticosteroids may benefit patients. The original review was published in 2004 and was updated in 2010 and 2015 prior to this update.ObjectivesTo examine the effects of corticosteroids on death in children and adults with sepsis.Search methodsWe searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, LILACS, ClinicalTrials.gov, ISRCTN, and the WHO Clinical Trials Search Portal, on 25 July 2019. In addition, we conducted reference checking and citation searching, and contacted study authors, to identify additional studies as needed.Selection criteriaWe included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of corticosteroids versus placebo or usual care (antimicrobials, fluid replacement, and vasopressor therapy as needed) in children and adults with sepsis. We also included RCTs of continuous infusion versus intermittent bolus of corticosteroids.Data collection and analysisAll review authors screened and selected studies for inclusion. One review author extracted data, which was checked by the others, and by the lead author of the primary study when possible. We obtained unpublished data from the authors of some trials. We assessed the methodological quality of trials and applied GRADE to assess the certainty of evidence. Review authors did not contribute to assessment of eligibility and risk of bias, nor to data extraction, for trials they had participated in.Main resultsWe included 61 trials (12,192 participants), of which six included only children, two included children and adults, and the remaining trials included only adults. Nine studies are ongoing and will be considered in future versions of this review. We judged 19 trials as being at low risk of bias. Corticosteroids versus placebo or usual care Compared to placebo or usual care, corticosteroids probably slightly reduce 28-day mortality (risk ratio (RR) 0.91, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.84 to 0.99; 11,233 participants; 50 studies; moderate-certainty evidence). Corticosteroids may result in little to no difference in long-term mortality (RR 0.97, 95% CI 0.91 to 1.03; 6236 participants; 7 studies; low-certainty evidence) and probably slightly reduce hospital mortality (RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.82 to 0.99; 8183 participants; 26 trials; moderate-certainty evidence). Corticosteroids reduced length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay for all participants (mean difference (MD) -1.07 days, 95% CI -1.95 to -0.19; 7612 participants; 21 studies; high-certainty evidence) and resulted in a large reduction in length of hospital stay for all participants (MD -1.63 days, 95% CI -2.93 to -0.33; 8795 participants; 22 studies; high-certainty evidence). Corticosteroids increase the risk of muscle weakness (RR 1.21, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.44; 6145 participants; 6 studies; high-certainty evidence). Corticosteroids probably do not increase the risk of superinfection (RR 1.06, 95% CI 0.95 to 1.19; 5356 participants; 25 studies; moderate-certainty evidence). Corticosteroids increase the risk of hypernatraemia (high-certainty evidence) and probably increase the risk of hyperglycaemia (moderate-certainty evidence). Moderate-certainty evidence shows that there is probably little or no difference in gastroduodenal bleeding, stroke, or cardiac events, and low-certainty evidence suggests that corticosteroids may result in little to no difference in neuropsychiatric events. Continuous infusion of corticosteroids versus intermittent bolus We are uncertain about the effects of continuous infusion of corticosteroids compared with intermittent bolus administration. Three studies reported data for this comparison, and the certainty of evidence for all outcomes was very low.Authors' conclusionsModerate-certainty evidence indicates that corticosteroids probably reduce 28-day and hospital mortality among patients with sepsis. Corticosteroids result in large reductions in ICU and hospital length of stay (high-certainty evidence). There may be little or no difference in the risk of major complications; however, corticosteroids increase the risk of muscle weakness and hypernatraemia, and probably increase the risk of hyperglycaemia. The effects of continuous versus intermittent bolus administration of corticosteroids are uncertain.

The incidence rate of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in the United States is approximately 0.005%; men are at slightly higher risk than women. Bony involvement or pathological fracture rarely occurs in CLL, and it may be the initial presentation. An 85-year-old woman presented with acute respiratory failure secondary to pneumonia. Symptomatology included dyspnea. She was found to have pathological fracture of the femur caused by CLL. The diagnosis of CLL had been made 6 years previously, but the patient had refused therapy. On admission, the patient required endotracheal intubation, mechanical ventilation, and admission to the medical intensive care unit. Endotracheal intubation extubation was successful after 48 hours. The patient then complained of severe left knee pain. Bone radiograph and femoral computed tomography scan revealed acute pathological fracture of the left distal femur. There was no history of trauma. The fracture was stabilized with extension lock splint. Pathological fracture in patients with CLL is associated with hypercalcemia, Richter’s transformation, or multiple myeloma. This patient exemplifies the fact that pathological fracture can be caused by CLL in the absence of hypercalcemia, Richter’s transformation, or multiple myeloma and can be the initial presentation of CLL.

Infliximab therapy is associated with higher rates of active tuberculosis (TB), particularly extrapulmonary and disseminated forms with unusual symptoms. We report the case of a 66-year-old man with Crohn’s disease who developed TB mimicking lung cancer on imaging. He presented with cough and fever of 2 weeks’ duration shortly after starting infliximab. Computed tomography of the chest revealed a 7.0 × 3.2 cm 2 pleural-based mass, highly suspicious for malignancy. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of TB. The mass disappeared after antitubercular treatment, and the patient recovered completely. A review of the literature suggests that TB masquerades as lung cancer clinically and radiologically. The classical lesions of TB are cavitatory with calcifications. Mass lesions without cavity or calcifications are rare and are mostly reported from regions endemic for TB. The majority of patients on infliximab therapy required biopsy for accurate diagnosis of TB because of its unusual presentation.

A study was conducted to evaluate the benefits and risks associated with the use of corticosteroids as a form of treatment for severe and septic shock among adults. Results indicated that there is no clear indication of benefit in reduction of mortality after use of such medicines, however, of late, low-dosage has been recommended for more beneficial results.