Abstract

GONCALVES, João. The influence of the Autonomic nervous system in the inflammatory response of sepsis. Arq Med [online]. 2014, vol.28, n.1, pp.08-17. ISSN 2183-2447.

Sepsis, systemic inflammatory response syndrome associated with infection, is a clinical entity with increasing social and medical impact. The deregulation of the inflammatory response seems to be in the basis of its pathophysiology. Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) assumes a regulatory role in the majority of the body’s functions. In the last years increasing evidence has shown that immune response is under influence of ANS through its two efferent arms: sympathetic (SNS) and parasympathetic nervous systems (PSNS). The influence of SNS seems complex showing pro and anti-inflammatory effects while PSNS has mainly anti-inflammatory features. Interestingly it seems that these systems act in a synergic way in the regulation of immune response at the spleen. ANS’s ability to modulate the inflammatory response may lead to the emergence of new approaches to the treatment of Sepsis, like ß2 adrenergic receptor and a7 nicotinic receptors agonists. These approaches ought to respect the importance of the SNS stimulation to the optimization of perfusion pressure in septic patients. in this way the deeper understanding of ANS’s role in the pathophysiology of Sepsis will open new perspectives regarding the treatment of this entity.

Keywords : Sepsis; inflammation; autonomic nervous system.

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