title: New approaches to the treatment of sepsis.
abstract: The clinical spectrum of sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock is responsible for a growing number of deaths and excessive health care expenditures. Until recently, despite multiple clinical trials, no intervention provided a beneficial outcome in septic patients. Within the last 2 years, studies that involved drotrecogin alfa (activated), corticosteroid therapy, and early goal-directed therapy showed efficacy in those with severe sepsis and septic shock. These results have provided optimism for reducing sepsis-related mortality.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, 4200 East Ninth Avenue, Box C272, Denver, CO 80262, USA. james.obrien@uchsc.edu
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Abraham
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003422:Critical Care; D016638:Critical Illness; D004298:Dopamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006490:Hemostatics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006493:Heparin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000517:prevention & control; D011486:Protein C / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D018805:Sepsis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D014667:Vasopressins / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D006490:Hemostatics; D007328:Insulin; D011486:Protein C; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014667:Vasopressins; D006493:Heparin; C421124:drotrecogin alfa activated; D004298:Dopamine