Table 1.

Characteristics of studies excluded from meta-analysis of corticosteroids for patients with severe sepsis or septic shock

Study	Reason for exclusion
Hahn 195118	Patients with acute streptococcal infections but not septic shock. Trial investigated effect of hydrocortisone on fever, anti-streptolysin titres, and onset of rheumatic fever. No data are reported for analysis of various outcomes considered in systematic review
Hughes 198426	Only acute effects (within 1 hour) of methylprednisolone and/or naloxone on haemodynamic data were available, and no data reported for any outcomes considered in systematic review
McKee 198325	Mixed population of critically ill patients. Separate data from septic shock not available
Meduri 199834	Trial included patients with late acute respiratory distress syndrome phase and not patients with septic shock
Rogers 197021	Study published only as abstract, no contact with authors possible, incomplete information for primary and secondary outcomes
Thompson 197612	Study published only as abstract, no contact with authors possible, incomplete information for primary and secondary outcomes
Weigelt 198529	Mixed population of critically ill patients. Separate data from septic shock not available