title: Myocardial depression in sepsis.
abstract: Since the ancient Greeks, we have learned that the pathophysiology of the human diseases relies on blood-borne humoral factors. This was the case with the sepsis myocardial depression, whose associated morbidity and mortality remained untouched during the last decades. Despite the growing knowledge of the possible involved mechanisms, our understanding of this serious condition is still in its infancy. Controversies have surrounded the real origin of septic-induced myocardial dysfunction, and it has been ascribed to inflammatory mediators, NO generation, interstitial myocarditis, coronary ischemia, calcium trafficking, endothelin receptor antagonist, and apoptosis. Although not fully understood, myocardial injury/depression remains a challenge for critical care practitioners.
authors.forename: Constantino Jose
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Nelson
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Akamine
authors.forename: Elias
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Knobel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D065128:Endothelin Receptor Antagonists; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000473:pathology; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000378:metabolism*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D014336:Troponin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D065128:Endothelin Receptor Antagonists; D014336:Troponin; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D002118:Calcium