Which of the following is a characteristic sign of distributive shock?

Distributive shock is characterized by an abnormal distribution of blood flow in the smallest blood vessels, leading to inadequate blood supply to organs despite adequate volume. One of the hallmark signs of distributive shock, particularly in septic shock, is a high heart rate coupled with low blood pressure.

In distributive shock, the body tries to compensate for the decreased systemic vascular resistance and the resultant hypotension by increasing heart rate, as the heart works harder to maintain perfusion to vital organs. The combination of tachycardia and hypotension is indicative of the body's attempt to respond to the low blood flow and prevent organ failure.

The other choices reflect physiological responses or conditions that are not typical of distributive shock. Normal heart rate and blood pressure indicate stable hemodynamics, which does not align with the critical condition of distributive shock. A decreased heart rate with high blood pressure suggests a different pathophysiological state, such as an increased resistance scenario, which would notably not relate to the distributive shock mechanism. Lastly, variable blood pressure with a normal pulse does not accurately depict the typical state in distributive shock, where hypotension is a more definitive characteristic. Thus, the combination of high heart rate and low blood pressure correctly reflects the response seen