[Pathophysiology of sepsis].

Our understanding of the causes and pathophysiological basis of sepsis has been subject to constant change over the last decades. In today's understanding, sepsis is primarily a pathology of the immune system, triggered by an underlying infection but perpetuated by the host's response itself. Thereby, sepsis should not be categorized to be either a sole pro- or anti-inflammatory syndrome, but rather as a variable continuum of overlaying immune mechanisms. While a overshooting immune reaction predominates in early sepsis, this reaction is rapidly compensated, often leading to a immune dysfunction, rendering the host susceptible for secondary infections. This review aims to provide the reader with an overview of the broad molecular mechanisms contributing to the clinical picture of sepsis. © Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York.