• mortality at 28 day [ Time Frame: 28-day ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
• mortality at hospital discharge [ Time Frame: hospital discharge ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
• mortality at 6 months [ Time Frame: 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
• decision to withhold or withdraw active treatments [ Time Frame: up to 90 days ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Time to wean vasopressor therapy [ Time Frame: up to 90 days ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• time to achieve an SOFA score of less than 6 [ Time Frame: up to 90 days ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Length of intensive care unit and hospital stay [ Time Frame: up to hospital discharge ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
• acquisition of new infection [ Time Frame: up to 180 days ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
• bleeding events [ Time Frame: up to 90 days ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
• neurological sequels at intensive care unit discharge and at 90 and 180 days [ Time Frame: up to 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]

This study aims at comparing the efficacy and safety of recombinant human activated protein C to that of low dose of corticosteroids and at investigating the interaction between these drugs in the management of septic shock

Septic shock still places a burden in the healthcare system round around the world. In the early 20ties, clinical trials suggested potential benefits from activated protein C in severe sepsis and of corticosteroids when given to adults with refractory shock. More recent studies suggested that patients with moderate sepsis or septic shock may not benefit from either activated protein C or corticosteroids. Therefore, current international guidelines suggest that physicians may consider using these drugs in the more severe cases of sepsis. The main risk associated with the use of activated protein C is bleeding and the main risk associated with the use of steroids is superinfection. It is paramount that a new adequately powered trial explores the benefit/risk ratio of these two drugs and of their combination in a population of adult patients with septic shock.

• Drug: placebos
• Drug: hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone and placebo
• Drug: recombinant human activated protein C and placebos
• Drug: recombinant human activated protein C and hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone

• Placebo Comparator: placebo of hydrocortisone, placebo of fludrocortisone and placebo of activated protein C
• Active Comparator: Hydrocortisone plus fludrocortisone and a placebo of activated protein C
• Active Comparator: placebo of hydrocortisone, placebo of fludrocortisone and activated protein C
• Active Comparator: hydrocortisone plus fludrocortisone plus activated protein C

Inclusion Criteria:

• hospitalized in intensive care unit for less than 7 days
• septic shock for less than 24 hours
• at least one proven site of infection
• at least 2 organ dysfunction as defined by a SOFA score =or> to 3 for at least 6 consecutive hours
• need for vasopressor (dopamine =or>15µg/kg/min or epinephrine/norepinephrine at =or>0,25 µg/kg/min for at least 6 consecutive hours, to maintain systolic arterial pressure at 90 mmHg or more OR mean arterial pressure at 6( mmHg or more
• informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• pregnancy or breath feeding
• decision not to resuscitate
• underlying disease with an estimated life expectancy of less than 1 month
• formal indication for corticosteroids
• recent surgery (ie within the past 72 hours) or a surgery at high risk of bleeding
• gastro-intestinal bleeding within the past 6 weeks
• chronic liver disease (Child C)
• recent trauma (ie within the past 72 hours)
• intracranial process
• history of stroke, CNS bleeding or traumatic brain injury within the past 3 months
• platelet counts of less than 30000 per cubic millimeter
• formal indication for curative anticoagulant; prophylactic use of heparin is allowed
• any condition of high risk of bleeding as per patient's primary physicians
• hypersensitivity of activated drotrecogin alpha or any other component of the drug
• no affiliation to a social security

• Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris
• Ministry of Health, France