Researchers have mapped how the immune response in people with sepsis changes over time. The work, led by King's College London, could help pave the way for treatments that target the specific parts of the immune system that are altered over the time course (trajectory) of sepsis illness in adults.
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the immune response to infection misfires. In sepsis, vital organs fail, and the condition can be fatal even when treated quickly. It's estimated that there are over 160 million cases and about 21 million deaths from sepsis worldwide each year.
Current treatments for sepsis focus on treating the underlying infection with antimicrobials and providing supportive care for failing vital organs. Despite efforts to treat the misfiring immune system, none have successfully improved outcomes for patients.
Building a time-based immune profile
In the new study, published today in Immunity, researchers sought a more detailed understanding of the immune response mechanisms that change over time in patients with sepsis.
