Immune Cell Dysfunction as a Consequence of Severe Sepsis

Genetic polymorphisms of innate and adaptive immunity as predictors of outcome in critically ill patients

“…There is increasing evidence that the immune system is crucially implicated in the pathophysiology of sepsis, and represents the root cause during its progression to severe sepsis (sepsis with dysfunction of one organ), then to multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), and eventually to septic shock and death (Carson and Kunkel 2012;Opal and Esmon 2003). Sepsis is rather a complex syndrome that develops when the initial, appropriate host response to an infection becomes amplified (cytokine storm), and is then dysregulated resulting in immunosuppression (immune paralysis) (Boomer et al 2005;Villar et al 2004).…”

“…Severe sepsis and septic shock frequently cause the admission or complicate the clinical course of critically ill patients admitted in ICU, and they are the leading causes of death of such patients worldwide (Carson and Kunkel 2012;Martin et al 2003). There is increasing evidence that the immune system is crucially implicated in the pathophysiology of sepsis, and represents the root cause during its progression to severe sepsis (sepsis with dysfunction of one organ), then to multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), and eventually to septic shock and death (Carson and Kunkel 2012;Opal and Esmon 2003).…”