Novel Breakthroughs in Sepsis and Septic Shock Management

A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Pharmaceutical Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2025 | Viewed by 2141

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Emergency and Critical Care, Section of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Azienda USL Toscana Centro, Prato, Italy
Interests: sepsis; septic cardiomyopathy; ARDS; electrical impedance tomography

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Guest Editor
Azienda Sanitaria di Firenze, Florence, Italy
Interests: emergency care; emergency medicine; sepsis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Sepsis and septic shock remain major contributors to morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients worldwide. Despite advances in supportive care, managing these complex conditions continues to pose significant clinical challenges. In light of this, we are pleased to announce the upcoming Special Issue, entitled “Novel Breakthroughs in Sepsis and Septic Shock Management,” which seeks to gather state-of-the-art research and insightful reviews on the latest therapeutic strategies, adjunctive therapies, and monitoring tools that have the potential to transform current clinical practice.

Building on our initial focus on non-amine-based therapies, this expanded Special Issue will now encompass a broader spectrum of innovative interventions and approaches. We invite submissions addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

Decatecholaminisation and Non-Amine-Based Therapies—investigations into novel vasopressors or vasopressor-sparing treatments (e.g., angiotensin II, vasopressin, and methylene blue) that target vasoplegia and endothelial dysfunction with the potential to minimize catecholamine-related adverse effects.
Beta Blockers and Other Cardiac Modulators—emerging evidence on beta blockers (e.g., esmolol and landiolol) in reducing adrenergic stress and improving hemodynamic stability in septic shock, as well as insights into agents like levosimendan in septic cardiomyopathy management.
Endocrine and Metabolic Support—the role of hydrocortisone, levothyroxine, and other hormone replacement therapies to optimize immune, metabolic, and cardiovascular function in critically ill septic patients.
Immunomodulatory Interventions—exploration of innovative techniques, including biologics, immunoadjuvants, or cytokine adsorption/filtration, aimed at controlling dysregulated immune responses in severe sepsis.
Precision Medicine Approaches—studies on biomarker-driven, gene-based, or phenotype-specific therapies to tailor treatments and improve outcomes at the individual patient level.
Advanced Monitoring and Supportive Technologies—novel methods in hemodynamic or organ function monitoring (e.g., electrical impedance tomography), coupled with targeted interventions such as extracorporeal organ support, that refine patient management and optimize clinical decision-making.
Combined Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological Strategies—holistic treatment frameworks that integrate multiple therapies, including fluid management, antimicrobial stewardship, and organ-support devices, for synergistic improvements in survival and quality of life.
By assembling cutting-edge research and comprehensive reviews, we aim to provide a robust resource for clinicians, researchers, and students who are dedicated to improving care for patients with sepsis and septic shock. We welcome contributions from diverse fields—such as anesthesiology, critical care, emergency medicine, pharmacology, and immunology—that can help shape a transformative, multi-disciplinary understanding of septic shock management.

We look forward to your submissions, which will help define future directions in this critical area of patient care.

Dr. Iacopo Cappellini
Dr. Vittorio Pavoni
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • decatecholaminisation
  • non-amine-based therapy
  • beta blockers
  • hormone replacement
  • levosimendan
  • Angiotensin II
  • sepsis
  • septic shock
  • septic cardiomyopathy

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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13 pages, 3004 KiB  
Systematic Review
Clinical Outcomes of Angiotensin II Therapy in Vasoplegic Shock: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by Ans Alamami, Alaa Rahhal, Bara Alqudah, Ahmed Shebani, Abdelkarim Alammora, Hashim Mohammad, Amr S. Omar and Ahmed Labib Shehatta
Life 2024, 14(9), 1085; https://doi.org/10.3390/life14091085 - 29 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1512
Abstract
Background: Angiotensin II is a peptide hormone vasopressor that activates angiotensin type 1 (AT1) receptors leading to vasoconstriction, the augmentation of arterial blood pressure (ABP), and organ perfusion. Angiotensin II was found to increase the ABP in catecholamine-refractory vasodilatory shock. Whether this effect [...] Read more.
Background: Angiotensin II is a peptide hormone vasopressor that activates angiotensin type 1 (AT1) receptors leading to vasoconstriction, the augmentation of arterial blood pressure (ABP), and organ perfusion. Angiotensin II was found to increase the ABP in catecholamine-refractory vasodilatory shock. Whether this effect improves the chances of survival or not remains inconclusive. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of angiotensin II in vasoplegic shock. Objectives: To evaluate the clinical significance of angiotensin II effects in vasoplegic shock concerning the hemodynamic impact, mortality outcomes, and side effects. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, we searched PubMed and EMBASE for experimental and observational studies published in English exploring the clinical outcomes of angiotensin II use in vasodilatory shock till 1 July 2024. Two independent authors assessed the quality and risk of bias of the included studies. A random effect model (Mantel–Haenszel) was used to combine data. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality associated with angiotensin II use in comparison to standard therapy, while the secondary outcomes were mean arterial pressure (MAP) change, multi-organ failure (MOF), and the incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF). The Q test and I2 were used to examine heterogeneity, with I2 > 50% indicating marked heterogeneity. Results: A total of eight studies (n = 974) comparing angiotensin II to standard therapy in vasoplegic shock were included in the systematic review, with three studies comprising 461 patients included in the final analysis of the primary outcome. Only one study evaluated the use of angiotensin II as a primary vasopressor, while the rest reported angiotensin II use in catecholamine-refractory vasodilatory shock. Overall, angiotensin II use was associated with similar in-hospital mortality compared to standard therapy (risk ratio [RR] = 0.83; 95% CI, 0.68–1.02, I2 = 0%). Likewise, there was no difference in MOF and AF (MOF: RR = 1.01; 95% CI, 0.61–1.65, I2 = 0%; AF: RR = 1.27; 95% CI, 0.38–4.23, I2 = 5%). However, angiotensin II use demonstrated a significant MAP increase (mean difference = −9.60; 95% CI, −9.71, −9.49, I2 = 0%). Conclusions: In vasodilatory shock, angiotensin II use demonstrated comparable in-hospital mortality compared to standard therapy. Nevertheless, it resulted in significant MAP change, which may encourage clinicians to use it in cases of profound hypotension. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Breakthroughs in Sepsis and Septic Shock Management)
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