What is Reynold’s Pentad?

Reynold’s Pentad is a collection of both signs and symptoms that a Medical Practitioner or paramedic can identify in order to determine a diagnosis of sepsis.

In acute ascending cholangitis, which is an infection of the biliary tree (usually from E-coli) the patient may have Charcot’s triad of symptoms (fever with rigors; jaundiced skin, and RUQ Abdominal Pain) and Reynold’s Pentad (Hypotension and Decreased Level of Consciousness) indicating that he or she is septic.

What is the signicance of Reynold’s Pentad to paramedics?

As a paramedic, the presence of Reynold’s Pentad should highlight to the paramedic the need to look at possible causes of sepsis and to commence early anti-bacterial therapies with IV antibiotics such as ceftriaxone or benzylpenicillans.

Reynold’s Pentad indicates sepsis as a likelly cause of the low blood pressure and decreasing level of consciousness as opposed to other common causes, such as cardiac problems, toxicologies, or cerebral events.

At the end of the day, as a paramedics, it is always important to treat the patient based on the signs and symptoms that you see, and not to focus too much on a specific diagnosis.