Sepsis-like shocks

Abstract

Widely used for classification of patients in clinical studies, the usual definition of septic shock is however regularly criticized for its lack of specificity. Many diseases are likely to produce clinical or biological manifestations similar to those observed in septic shock. These “septiclike shocks” may be related to different causes like acute systemic inflammation, global ischemia-reperfusion, toxic reaction, anaphylactic troubles, disorders in central regulation of temperature as well as metabolic or endocrine disturbances. It is of crucial importance to suspect these etiologies, since treatment is often totally different, requiring the immediate implementation of specific therapies.