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The function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis as related to the degree of severity of a septic process was assessed by measuring plasma levels of beta-endorphin, ACTH and cortisol. Sixty-one cases of postoperative patients treated at the intensive care unit were classified into four groups according to the severity of infection: Group 1 (control) included patients who did not show any sign of infection, group 2 patients with sepsis, group 3 patients with septic syndrome and group 4 patients with septic shock. Compared to G1 patients’ ACTH values (4.16+/-2.6 pg/ml), a statistically significant increase in ACTH values in various stages of septicemia (p < 0.005) with a noticeable difference also between G3 (7.11 +/- 3.7 pg/ml) and G4 (11.5 +/- 6.6 pg/ml) (p |
