SEPSIS: MECHANISMS OF PATHOPHYSIOLOGY AND EVOLVING THERAPEUTIC APPROACHES

Abstract

Sepsis is a critical, life-threatening condition and a significant global health burden. It is currently defined as severe organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection, with a renewed focus on the immune system's role in its pathophysiology. Despite extensive experimental and clinical research over the past three decades, effective interventions to alter the progression and outcomes of sepsis remain limited. Current evidence-based treatments are primarily confined to fundamental causal and supportive measures, while adjuvant therapies like blood purification and targeted immunotherapy have yet to demonstrate consistent efficacy. This review aims to provide an updated perspective on the immune pathophysiology of sepsis, explore therapeutic strategies targeting various immunological mechanisms, and advocate for a paradigm shift that prioritizes the host response over the pathogen as a potentially more effective therapeutic focus.