Vitamin C administration in severe sepsis

INTERVENTION: Vitamin C (ASCOR L500) Dose: 25 mg/kg/6h (total: 100 mg/kg/d) Duration: 4 days Mode: intravenous infusion CONDITION: Sepsis PRIMARY OUTCOME: Duration of norepinephrine administration Norepinephrine dose requirement SECONDARY OUTCOME: Illness severity (SOFA scores) Inflammatory biomarker concentrations (plasma CRP) Length of stay (hospital) Mortality (hospital) Plasma vitamin C concentrations Urinary vitamin C concentrations Vasopressin requirements INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Receiving IV antimicrobial therapy specifically for infection 2. Receiving >/=5 µg/min (>/=0.06 µg/kg/min) noradrenaline/adrenaline 3. Evidence of organ dysfunction ‐ SOFA >/= 2 for at least ONE of: respiratory system (PaO2/FiO2 < 300) liver (bilirubin >33) coagulation (platelets <100) renal system (creatinine >171)