Table 1 Baseline characteristics of study patients

Male—no. (%)

9 (60)

12 (80)

Age—years

70 (56–79)

64 (48–71)

Body mass index—kg/m²

29.4 (24.2–32.6)

30.5 (24.9–36.9)

ICU admission source—no. (%)

 Emergency department

6 (40)

7 (47)

 Operating or recovery room

6 (40)

4 (27)

 Ward

2 (13)

1 (7)

 Transfer from another hospital

1 (7)

3 (20)

Non-operative admission—no. (%)

8 (53)

11 (73)

Diabetes mellitus—no. (%)

4 (27)

4 (27)

Chronic kidney disease—no. (%)

1 (7)

1 (7)

APACHE III†

57 (54–62)

59 (43–82)

SOFA score‡

7 (5–8)

7 (6–8)

Sepsis source—no. (%)

 Gastro-intestinal/biliary

7 (47)

4 (27)

 Primary bacteraemia

1 (7)

0 (0)

 Respiratory

3 (20)

5 (33)

 Soft tissue

2 (13)

0 (0)

 Urinary

1 (7)

3 (20)

 Other

1 (7)

3 (20)

Nosocomial infection—no. (%)

1 (7)

3 (20)

Serum lactate—mmol/L

1.6 (1.2–2.1)

2.1 (1.8–2.4)

White blood cells count—× 10⁹/L

9.6 (5.8–11.7)

11.0 (9.1–13.2)

Platelets count—× 10⁹/L

170 (147–233)

130 (83–184)

Serum creatinine—µmol/L

98 (87–128)

90 (64–128)

Respiratory support—no. (%)

 Mechanical ventilation

7 (47)

7 (47)

 Non-invasive ventilation

1 (7)

0 (0)

 High Flow Nasal Cannula

0 (0)

3 (20)

 Nasal or room air

7 (47)

5 (33)

Hemodynamic support—no. (%)

 Norepinephrine alone

11 (73)

10 (67)

 Norepinephrine + Vasopressin

2 (13)

5 (33)

 Norepinephrine + Epinephrine

1 (7)

0 (0)

 Metaraminol alone

1 (7)

0 (0)

Norepinephrine equivalent—µg/kg/min§

0.06 (0.03–0.08)

0.09 (0.06–0.18)

Hydrocortisone before enrolment—no. (%)

6 (40)

10 (78)

Hydrocortisone use from pre-enrolment to end of study drug infusion—no. (%)

8 (53)

10 (78)

Urine output at randomization—ml/hr

60 (40–103)

100 (58–145)

Furosemide use in the 6 h before commencement of study drug—no. (%)

2 (13)

1 (7)

Furosemide use from start to 24 h after commencement of study drug—no. (%)

7 (47)

7 (47)