Survival rate after early treatment for acute type-A aortic dissection with ACTH-(1-24)

Haemorrhagic shock, usually as a consequence of major trauma, is the most f requent cause of death among people younger than 40 years. Reports Indicate that melanocortin peptides are effective in reversing haemorrhagic shock. We found that in patients with aortic-dissection-induced haemorrhagic shock , the addition of an early intravenous bolus Injection of the melanocortin andrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH)-(1.24) to standard treatment significa ntly improved cardiovascular function and increased survival rate. Because administration of ACTH-(1.24) is simple, and because melanocortin peptides have no acute toxicity, their use in the early critical care of patients in shock should be more extensively assessed.