Endotoxin in newborn septic shock: significance, metabolic, and cardiovascular changes

The role of endotoxin in newborn septic shock is reviewed. Metabolic and cardiovascular changes, as known to us, are described with special emphasis that the newborn is not a "small adult." Developmental or maturational changes are hypothesized to be the major cause of these differences between age groups. Finally, it is our belief that newborn septic shock is an important topic for further investigation.