In this multicenter, randomized trial, we assigned patients with shock to receive
either dopamine or norepinephrine as first-line vasopressor therapy to restore and
maintain blood pressure. When blood pressure could not be maintained with a dose
of 20 μg per kilogram of body weight per minute for dopamine or a dose of 0.19 μg
per kilogram per minute for norepinephrine, open-label norepinephrine, epinephrine,
or vasopressin could be added. The primary outcome was the rate of death at
28 days after randomization; secondary end points included the number of days
without need for organ support and the occurrence of adverse events.