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World J Crit Care Med. May 4, 2014; 3(2): 45-54
Published online May 4, 2014. doi: 10.5492/wjccm.v3.i2.45
Published online May 4, 2014. doi: 10.5492/wjccm.v3.i2.45
Metabolic theory of septic shock
Jay Pravda, Inflammatory Disease Research Centre, West Palm Beach, FL 33420, United States
Author contributions: Pravda J is the sole author of this manuscript and solely responsible for its content; Pravda J performed all the research, collected, analyzed and interpreted all the data; Pravda J conceived of and developed the Metabolic Theory of Septic Shock; Pravda J prepared and wrote the manuscript and performed all critical revisions; Pravda J certifies that the Metabolic Theory of Septic Shock is the product of his original research and Pravda J has overall responsibility for this manuscript.
Correspondence to: Jay Pravda, MD, MPH, Inflammatory Disease Research Centre, West Palm Beach, P.O. Box 32632, FL 33420, United States. jaypravda@yahoo.com
Telephone: +1-682-2513030 Fax: +1-888-7005813
Received: October 29, 2013
Revised: January 21, 2014
Accepted: March 3, 2014
Published online: May 4, 2014
Processing time: 203 Days and 17.3 Hours
Revised: January 21, 2014
Accepted: March 3, 2014
Published online: May 4, 2014
Processing time: 203 Days and 17.3 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: For decades septic shock has been attributed to an over-active immune response. However, immune modulation has failed to reduce mortality, casting doubt on a direct causal role for the immune response in the development of septic shock. A closer look suggests that septic shock is the result of a generalized build-up of hydrogen peroxide, a toxic cellular by-product generated as a consequence of the hypermetabolic state that accompanies a systemic immune response. This finding points to the systemic accumulation of hydrogen peroxide as a significant risk factor for the development of septic and non-septic shock syndromes.