Table 2 STRIPES pilot study inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria

1. Children newborn to 17 years and on any dose of any vasoactive infusion for between 1 to 6 h

Exclusion criteria

1. Known or suspected hypothalamic, pituitary, or adrenal disease

2. Currently receiving steroids for shock prior to randomization

3. Expected to have life support withdrawn

4. Premature infants (<38 weeks corrected gestational age)

5. Pregnancy

6. Post cardiac surgery

7. First dose of vasoactive infusion administered >24 h after PICU admission

8. No longer on vasoactive infusion at time of enrollment and/or expected to no longer be on vasoactive infusion at time first dose of study drug due

9. Primary cardiogenic shock suspected or proven

10. Spinal shock suspected or proven

11. Hemorrhagic or hypovolemic shock suspected or proven

12. Previously enrolled in STRIPES

13. Started on vasoactive infusion for reasons not related to shock

14. Physician refusal