Evaluation of naloxone therapy for Escherichia coli sepsis in the baboon
L. B. Hinshaw, L. T. Archer, B. K. Beller, A. C. Chang, D. J. Flournoy, R. B. Passey, J. B. Long and J. W. Holaday
Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City 73104.
This study evaluated the effects of naloxone hydrochloride in the treatment
of Escherichia coli-induced shock in baboons. The baboons were studied for
12 hours and monitored for survival times. All baboons were intravenously
infused for two hours with E coli and treated as follows: group 1, E coli
(control); group 2, E coli plus naloxone hydrochloride, 0.5 mg/kg bolus
plus 0.5 mg/kg/h for 9.5 hours; and group 3, E coli plus naloxone
hydrochloride, 2.0 mg/kg bolus plus 2.0 mg/kg/h for 3.8 hours. Naloxone was
administered after arterial pressure had reached the nadir (more than two
hours following initiation of E coli infusion). Mean arterial pressure was
supported by the lower dose of naloxone; however, sustained leukopenia and
neutropenia were not reversed by its infusion. Naloxone prevented the
increase in plasma beta-endorphin level and blunted the increase in plasma
cortisol level. Despite these effects, naloxone did not prevent
multiple-organ disease and did not decrease mortality.