The postresuscitation systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) may be partly caused and subsequently amplified by ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-associated disruption of the intestinal mucosal barrier. Steroids may suppress key events of I/R injury propagation. Furthermore, in shock states, stress-dose steroids improve vascular responsiveness to vasopressors and preserve monocyte and neutrophil phagocytosis, and dendritic cell function. Low-dose steroids may reduce the mortality of severely ill patients with septic shock.