Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift
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Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. · Oct 2018
[Do Vitamins Play a Role in the Pathogenesis and Therapy of Sepsis?]
Hospital mortality of severe sepsis and septic shock is still around 40 % according to recent studies. In accordance to the current sepsis definition, sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated response of the organism to infection. Septic shock is defined by vasopressor-dependent circulatory failure and lactic acidosis. ⋯ A number of recent studies and reviews have addressed the question whether deficiencies in certain vitamins may facilitate the transition from infection to septic shock. In addition, studies have investigated the effect of high-dose vitamin therapies on sepsis mortality and sepsis-associated organ dysfunctions. This article would like to summarize this current discussion with a focus on vitamin B1 (thiamine), vitamin C and vitamin D.
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PCSK9 inhibitors are a new and safe option of lowering LDL cholesterol. This article summarizes current recommendations for the use of PCSK9 inhibitors. Statins and ezetimibe are still the basis of cholesterol-lowering therapy. ⋯ PCSK9 inhibitors should be used in patients at very high cardiovascular risk if, despite the maximum tolerated statin/ezetimibe therapy, an LDL-C reduction of more than 50 % would be needed to achieve the recommended LDL-C target. The use in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia is usually carried out according to this scheme as well. For statin intolerance, PCSK9 inhibitors should be considered in patients at very high cardiovascular risk who have not tolerated low doses of at least two different statins/ezetimibe.