The Role of Antioxidants in Sepsis Management: A Review of Therapeutic Applications
Abstract
Sepsis represents a life-threatening clinical condition characterized by a dysregulated host response to infection leading to organ dysfunction. It affects approximately 49 million people worldwide each year and contributes to an estimated 11 million deaths, accounting for 19.7% of global deaths. Despite the global decline in mortality rates, approximately 25% of patients still succumb to sepsis and hospital mortality in septic shock, a subset of sepsis, approaches 60%. Sepsis not only triggers a multifaceted immune imbalance involving both pro- and anti-inflammatory pathways, but also induces coagulation and complement cascades that collectively contribute to progressive tissue damage and multi-organ dysfunction. While advances have been made in the treatment of sepsis, mortality remains significantly high, ranging from 20% to 80%. The outcome of sepsis can be influenced by numerous factors, including the overall health status of the patient, the severity of sepsis, the organ systems affected and the timing of treatment initiated. Despite the potential of antioxidants such as Vitamin C, Melatonin and N-Acetylcysteine to manage oxidative stress in sepsis, further randomized controlled trials are warranted to clarify their dosage, timing and duration of administration and thereby improve our understanding and effective use of these agents in sepsis management. This review aims to examine the relationship between sepsis and antioxidants, specifically focusing on the role of antioxidants in the pathophysiology of sepsis and their potential therapeutic applications.
Keywords
Sepsis, Mortality Rates, Antioxidant Therapy, Septic Shock, Organ Dysfunction
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