title: The septic brain.
abstract: Sepsis is a major disease entity with important clinical implications. Sepsis-induced multiple organ failure is associated with a high mortality rate in humans and is clinically characterized by pulmonary, cardiovascular, renal and gastrointestinal dysfunction. Recently, several studies have demonstrated that sepsis survivors present long-term cognitive impairment, including alterations in memory, attention, concentration and/or global loss of cognitive function. However, the pathogenesis and natural history of septic encephalopathy and cognitive impairment are still poorly known and further understanding of these processes is necessary for the development of effective preventive and therapeutic interventions. This review discusses the clinical presentation and underlying pathophysiology of the encephalopathy and cognitive impairment associated with sepsis.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Fisiopatologia Experimental, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Unidade Acadêmica de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, 88806-000, Criciuma, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Emilio L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Streck
authors.forename: Clarissa M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Comim
authors.forename: Tatiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Barichello
authors.forename: João
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Quevedo
mesh_terms: D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D018805:Sepsis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology