Wiener klinische Wochenschrift
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Wien. Klin. Wochenschr. · Jan 2002
Review[Acute phase reaction and immunocompetence in sepsis and SIRS].
The incidence of sepsis and SIRS, respectively is still rising. Mortality is 40 to 70% and, thus, remains very high in spite of major advances in intensive care medicine. Numerous experimental data have helped to explain isolated aspects of the pathophysiology of these disease states but the complex patho-mechanism remains to be elucidated. ⋯ Additionally, several gene polymorphisms have been detected for example within the toll-like receptor genes and TNF genes. These polymorphisms document the existence of pre-disposing factors, which influence acute phase reaction as well as immuno-competence in sepsis. Both genes and gender will play an important role in the future to identify patients at risk and potentially, to design a specific and individualized immuno-therapies.
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Wien. Klin. Wochenschr. · Jan 2002
Review[Cortisol in critically ill patients with sepsis--physiological functions and therapeutic implications].
Modern immunology reveals that cortisol interacts with the immune response at virtually all levels exerting suppressive and permissive effects. A prerequisite for the defense of severe infections is the functional integrity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA) resulting in adequate cortisol production. There is increasing evidence that cortisol physiology and regulation substantially change in the course of septic shock. ⋯ The earlier weaning from vasopressor therapy was associated with a trend towards improvements in organ dysfunction and mortality, respectively. Large-scale trials are on the way to investigate the benefit of stress doses of hydrocortisone on mortality of septic shock. This paper will focus on changes in glucocorticoid physiology and regulation during septic shock and will discuss the effects of stress doses of hydrocortisone on immune response and vascular tone in the course of septic shock.