[Monoclonal antibodies against inflammatory mediators for the treatment of patients with sepsis].

Sepsis is a common cause of morbidity and mortality, particularly in immunocompromised and critically ill patients. Recently, a new designation, systemic inflammatory response syndrome(SIRS), has been studied. When an abnormal generalized inflammatory reaction is due to an infection, the terms sepsis and SIRS are synonymous. The systemic response to infection is mediated via the macrophage-derived cytokines that target end organ receptors in response to injury or infection. One strategy used to perturb the septic cascade is to block a particular inflammatory molecule. Results have been published on clinical trials in sepsis patients treated with several monoclonal antibodies, such as antiendotoxin antibodies, anti-tumor necrosis factor antibodies, and anti CD14 antibodies. In this chapter, the results of clinical trials in patients and in vivo data from animal models of sepsis are summarized.