POMC and Shock: In humans and foals, a low baseline cortisol concentration or an inadequate response to a high‐ or low‐dose ACTH stimulation test have been advocated as means to diagnose CIRCI.5, 8, 9 However, in human medicine, because of the low sensitivity and specificity of the results of endocrine testing to diagnose CIRCI, current recommendations are to administer low‐dose corticosteroids to treat adult patients with septic shock that are nonresponsive to fluid therapy or moderate to high doses of vasopressors rather than waiting on endogenous or ACTH‐stimulated cortisol test results.5