Drug to battle septic shock
Australian scientists say they have developed a drug that may stop people from dying of septic shock after surgery. Tests on animals had shown the medication could halt kidney failure brought on by post-operative complications.
Dr Clive May of Melbourne’s Howard Florey Institute said kidney failure had been the most deadly side effect but treatments were inadequate.
Working with colleagues at Austin Hospital in Victoria, the researchers studied the basic mechanisms of kidney injury and tested therapies on lab animals. Late last year they began human trials with one so far unnamed drug, giving it to a handful of shock patients with deteriorating renal function.
“Results from the first patient are very encouraging … and we’re obviously hoping this will be an important advance,” Dr May said.
