Sphingosine 1-phosphate escapes the Catch-22 of sepsis prevention and mitigation therapies.

Abstract

Sepsis is defined as life-threatening organ dysfunction as a consequence of a dysregulated host immune response to infection and is the leading cause of mortality across the globe [1]. Septic organ dysfunction leads to a 2-2•5 times greater risk of death, and patients that progress to septic shock have hospital mortality rates greater than 40%. With few options available for prevention or treatment, antibiotics and supportive therapies are initiated empirically.