Tsai MH, et al. – This study was performed in patients with liver cirrhosis and septic shock, to assess if low concentrations of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) and decreased DHEAS/cortisol ratio are associated with poor outcome in these subjects. In cirrhotic patients who succumbed to septic shock, a dissociation between cortisol (increased) and DHEAS (decreased) was reported. Data highlighted association of low DHEAS/cortisol ratios with more severe diseases, inflammation, and critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency (CIRCI) and these ratios could serve as a prognostic marker in these subjects.