Metabolic depression and hypothermia in SIRS.

What is it about?

A fall in oxygen utilization during septic or endotoxic shock is thought to reflect circulatory hypoxia or mitochondrial dysfunction, but these pathology-oriented hypotheses do not explain all clinical observations. This study provides evidence for an alternative hypothesis, according to which oxygen utilization falls as the result of a physiological thermometabolic adaptation.

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Why is it important?

- We have developed and used an unprecedented experimental preparation that provides simultaneous measurements of oxygen delivery and consumption in rats whose ability to regulate body temperature has not been disrupted by anaesthetics. - The results are striking for indicating that metabolic depression and hypothermia in endotoxic shock occur independently of global or tissue hypoxia. - The results also demonstrate that a switch in thermal response from fever to hypothermia serves as a pre-emptive strategy to avoid hypoxia in endotoxic shock.

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