Arginine-Vasopressin in severe septic vs. non-septic shock in extremely low birth weight infants with acute renal failure

Background: Recent clinical investigations have demonstrated that arginine-vasopressin (AVP) may be a valuable alternative or adjunct to common pressor agents in various forms of shock (1, 2). Although, typically septic shock is characterized by AVP deficiency and pressor hypersensitivity to the exogenous hormone, AVP has also been successfully employed in other shock forms that are usually not characterised by AVP deficiency. Aim: To assess the efficacy of AVP as a pressor adjunct to norepinephrine and epinephrine in severe septic vs. non-septic shock in extremely low birth weight infants (ELBW) with acute rena…