[Pathophysiology of sepsis and possible influence of statins].
Severe sepsis and septic shock are common complications in the intensive care unit and associated with high mortality. Early antimicrobial therapies together with organ-supportive measures are the major therapeutic approaches. However in the last decades immunomodulatory therapies have been investigated due to the notion of a compromised inflammatory response in septic patients. In addition to lowering circulating cholesterol, statins (HMG-CoA-reductase-inhibitors) have also been shown to possess pleiotropic anti-inflammatory potential. Recent studies indicate that these anti-inflammatory effects also modulate acute inflammatory response and therefore may play a protective role in septic patients. In this review, the pathophysiological background and first clinical trials of statins as a new adjuvant therapy in sepsis are summarized.
Fraunberger
P
P
Medizinisches Zentrallabor, Feldkirch, Österreich. pfraunberger@mzl.at
Drexel
H
H
Walli
A K
AK
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D019446:Endotoxemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D018805:Sepsis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D015996:Survival Rate; D018746:Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D002784:Cholesterol