The Effects of Ibuprofen on the Physiology and Survival of Patients with Sepsis

Sepsis is associated with a mortality rate of 30 to 50 percent and with substantial morbidity. 1 The relative contributions of the inflammatory response and infection to these adverse outcomes are unknown. 2 , 3 In animal models of sepsis, treatment with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs improves survival and reduces physiologic abnormalities. 4 – 8 The synthesis of prostaglandin and thromboxane has been linked with abnormalities of airway mechanics, pulmonary hypertension, hypoxemia, cardiovascular collapse, and multiple organ failure in animals and in humans with the sepsis syndrome. 9 – 25 Ibuprofen has been shown to have effects on sepsis in humans, but because of their small samples (fewer . . .