Potential strategies for inflammatory mediator manipulation: retrospect and prospect.

Sepsis syndrome and septic shock remain significant causes of morbidity and mortality. To date, clinical trials of novel agents to treat sepsis have failed to demonstrate clinical efficacy despite considerable animal data to suggest a positive therapeutic benefit. This article reviews the recent major clinical trials on sepsis and discusses the hypotheses on which these therapies are based and the critical issues associated with clinical sepsis. Recommendations for future clinical trials on sepsis are made.