Abstract
Sepsis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among hospitalized patients and
the leading cause of death among patients admitted to intensive care units. The immune
response in sepsis is characterized by the activation of both proinflammatory and
anti-inflammatory pathways. These pathways are concurrent, starting early in the course
of sepsis. Given the high burden of morbidity and mortality associated with sepsis,
there is an increasing interest in immunomodulatory therapies targeted at improving
outcomes in sepsis. This review will summarize current understanding about the balance
between hyperinflammation and immunosuppression in sepsis and discuss the role of
potential therapies to modulate these responses.
Keywords
sepsis - immunology - immunosuppression - glucocorticoid