Corticosteroid treatment of major trauma. Mechanisms involved in their therapeutic effect.

Corticosteroids injected into the upper abdominal aorta of rabbits, accelerated the clearance rate of endotoxin injected into the circulation, and of endotoxin that had entered the circulation from the intestine following an ischemic injury to the intestine. They also prevented or eliminated the endotoxemia of intestinal origin produced by a 30% immersion burn. Preliminary data suggest that they facilitate faster clearance by preventing the excessive release of norepinephrine by endotoxin.