Immunosuppression in patients who die of sepsis and multiple organ failure.

ABSTRACT:

Context

Severe sepsis is typically characterized by initial cytokine-mediated hyperinflammation. Whether this hyperinflammatory phase is followed by immunosuppression is controversial. Animal studies suggest that multiple immune defects occur in sepsis, but data from humans remain conflicting.

Objectives

To determine the association of sepsis with changes in host innate and adaptive immunity and to examine potential mechanisms for putative immunosuppression.

Design, setting, and participants

Rapid postmortem spleen and lung tissue harvest was performed at the bedsides of 40 patients who died in intensive care units (ICUs) of academic medical centers with active severe sepsis to characterize their immune status at the time of death (2009-2011). Control spleens (n = 29)

SUBMITTER: Boomer JS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3361243 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature