The Role of Platelets in Sepsis

Septic shock causes approximately 200,000 deaths annually in the United States and continues to be one of the major etiologies of adult and childhood morbidity and mortality in thw rold. During septic shock, microbial antigens such as gram-negative bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or endotixin initiate an uncontrolled relase of host-derived pro-inflammatory nediators, which ultimately leads to multiple tissue damage, cardiovascular shock and death. It has been obsered for over 40 years that patients with sepsis often have low platelet countes and that intravenous injection of LPS into mice induces rapid thrombocytopenia. However, it is unclear whether platelts are directly activated by LPS or by related endogenous mediators.