In hypovolemic shock, which hormone is most helpful in maintaining blood pressure?

• A. progesterone
• B. epinephrine
• C. glucocorticoids
• D. norepinephrine

Answer: (D)

In hypovolemic shock, the immediate goal is to preserve arterial pressure despite low circulating volume. Norepinephrine is especially effective because it mainly stimulates alpha-1 receptors on blood vessels, causing rapid vasoconstriction that raises systemic vascular resistance and arterial pressure. It also gives a modest boost to heart contractility via beta-1 effects, helping sustain cardiac output, but the key action is vasoconstriction to keep BP up in the setting of volume loss. Epinephrine can raise BP as well but its strong beta effects can lead to higher heart rate and less predictable vascular constriction in pure hypovolemia. Glucocorticoids and progesterone don’t provide the immediate, targeted vasoconstrictive response needed in this acute scenario.