Lysophosphatidylcholine and v-3 Fatty Acids in Sepsis

OpenAlex · English

Sepsis is a major cause of death in medical/surgical intensive care units (ICUs). It is estimated that >750 000 cases of sepsis are diagnosed each year in the US alone, with crude mortality rates of 28‐50% [1]. It is believed that the number of patients with sepsis will increase by 1.5% annually, exceeding the anticipated population growth. This increase is attributed to the high prevalence of sepsis among elderly patients and the aging of the population in the US [2]. The total national healthcare cost of sepsis is estimated to be in excess of US$16.7 billion annually. A better understanding of the pathophysiology of sepsis is expected to lead to better management strategies that will not only save lives, but also reduce healthcare costs. Sepsis can be defined as a systemic inflammatory response to infection; when this causes hypotension and multi-organ dysfunction, septic shock ensues. However, it is common knowledge that in many instances the infectious agent cannot be isolated. It is relevant to note that noninfectious disorders such as trauma, pancreatitis, and major abdominal or cardiovascular surgery also result in critical illness that resembles sepsis and septic shock, due to stimulation of the innate immune system. Several studies have indicated that mortality in sepsis is a function of the number of failing organ systems and the severity of dysfunction within the system. In fact, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome is now regarded as the most common cause of death among patients in noncoronary ICUs. In other words, the prognosis of patients with sepsis is related to the severity of organ dysfunction at the time of admission to the ICU. Several events appear to contribute to the development of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, including: