First-line vasopressor therapy in neonates with fluid-refractory septic shock: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Am J Emerg MedJun 18, 2026 (epub)
Clinical ResearchPediatrics

Rand Yahya, Jana Hassoun, Omar Hamodat et al.

✦ AI-curated · Sources linked

In 30 seconds

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated first-line vasopressor therapy in neonates (<28 days) with fluid-refractory septic shock. It compared epinephrine and norepinephrine to dopamine across four randomized controlled trials. The analysis found no significant differences in early shock reversal (RR = 1.07) or all-cause mortality (RR = 0.95) between the treatments.

Key findings

  • Epinephrine or norepinephrine showed no significant difference in shock reversal within 1 hour compared to dopamine (RR = 1.07).
  • All-cause mortality rates were similar between epinephrine/norepinephrine and dopamine (RR = 0.95).
  • Subgroup analyses revealed no significant differences for norepinephrine (RR = 0.97) or epinephrine (RR = 1.16).
  • Secondary outcomes, including the need for additional vasoactive agents, showed no differences.

Why it matters

Understanding the effectiveness of different vasopressors in neonates with septic shock is crucial for optimizing treatment strategies. This analysis highlights the need for further research to clarify the best first-line therapy in this vulnerable population.

What to keep in mind

The study is limited by the small number of trials and significant clinical heterogeneity among the included studies.

Source

PubMed · PMID 42361705

Published in Am J Emerg Med. This summary was written by xxcode from the publication's abstract and metadata. It is not peer reviewed and is not a substitute for the original article. For clinical decisions, review the original publication.

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