[Recent data on the physiopathology of septic shock]

This review is going on to emphasize recent advances of the pathophysiology of septic shock (SS) which goes-between the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and the multisystem organ failure (MOF). By several recent studies, our knowledge of the cellular and molecular pathophysiology of the SS has dramatically increased. Bacterial products, immunocompetent cells, soluble mediators, and cell-cell interactions between blood cells and endothelium have been reviewed. The metabolic disorders following SS can also be observed during SIRS. Still further, these abnormalities do not accurately predict prognosis, except some of them. A wealth of pre-clinical data suggests the efficacy and potentially useful therapeutic strategies like specific immunotherapy (anti-endotoxin, antimediators). Discrepancies between animals models and unexpected and disappointing clinical trial results during SS are discussed. Blocking simultaneously the hole metabolic patterns of SS which is a complex, multisystem, and multifactorial pathologic process seems to be a utopian situation. Furthermore SS occuring more frequently as a complication of nosocomial infection, the high cost of such a novel therapeutic strategy has to be taken into account.