Circulatory Collapse
More than 200,000 people in the
U.S. die from septic shock and hemorrhagic shock
each year. Trauma injury resulting from
automobile accidents, bullet or knife wounds and
falls is the primary reason for development of
hemorrhagic shock, and is the leading cause of
death for individuals under the age of 45 in the
U.S. today.
Current treatment for patients
with hemorrhagic shock consists of fluid
replacement coupled with strong supportive care
to restore normal blood pressure. production of
inflammatory mediators by cells of the host
immune system results in a process called
cellular apoptosis -- or programmed cell death -
and is responsible for the tissue damage that
causes vital organs to stop functioning
normally. Developing novel therapeutic
intervention strategies harnessing this new
information is critical to reducing both
morbidity and mortality resulting from shock.
High morbidity and mortality from hemorrhagic
shock and subsequent multiple organ failure
remain a very significant and costly clinical
problem.
