Science review: The brain in sepsis--culprit and victim

On one side, brain dysfunction is a poorly explored complication of sepsis. On the other side, brain dysfunction may actively contribute to the pathogenesis of sepsis. The current review aimed at summarizing the current knowledge about the reciprocal interaction between the immune and central nervou...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Critical care (London, England) England), 2005-02, Vol.9 (1), p.37-44
Main Authors: Sharshar, Tarek, Hopkinson, Nicholas S, Orlikowski, David, Annane, Djillali
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Blood-Brain Barrier - metabolism
Blood-Brain Barrier - physiopathology
Brain - anatomy & histology
Brain - pathology
Brain Diseases - immunology
Brain Diseases - physiopathology
Humans
Review
Sepsis - complications
Sepsis - etiology
Shock, Septic - physiopathology
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Summary:On one side, brain dysfunction is a poorly explored complication of sepsis. On the other side, brain dysfunction may actively contribute to the pathogenesis of sepsis. The current review aimed at summarizing the current knowledge about the reciprocal interaction between the immune and central nervous systems during sepsis. The immune-brain cross talk takes part in circumventricular organs that, being free from blood-brain-barrier, interface between brain and bloodstream, in autonomic nuclei including the vagus nerve, and finally through the damaged endothelium. Recent observations have confirmed that sepsis is associated with excessive brain inflammation and neuronal apoptosis which clinical relevance remains to be explored. In parallel, damage within autonomic nervous and neuroendocrine systems may contribute to sepsis induced organ dysfunction.
ISSN:1364-8535
1466-609X
DOI:10.1186/cc2951