Exogenous adrenomedullin reduces the arterial lactate concentration and mean pulmonary arterial pressure in ovine endotoxemia

Sepsis-associated arterial hypotension may be complicated by inadequate systemic and regional oxygen delivery resulting in lactic acidosis and multiple organ failure. We hypothesized that exogenous administration of adrenomedullin (AM), a vasodilatory peptide hormone with anti-inflammatory properties, may improve the oxygen delivery–demand relationship, thereby limiting the increase in arterial lactate concentrations in ovine endotoxemia.