Fig. 3. Septic cachexia: a new potential target to improve the clinical outcome of septic patients.

The inflammatory response of immune cells is necessary to combat pathogens in sepsis. On the other hand, excessive inflammation induces or exacerbates not only MOD, but also immune exhaustion. Like cancer cachexia, septic cachexia presumably contributes to worsening prognosis and mortality in sepsis. Preventing the metabolic derangements associated with septic cachexia, while preserving immune function, may be an alternative way to control excessive inflammation and prevent immune exhaustion. Septic cachexia, which is caused by metabolic inflammatory complex, is therefore proposed as a novel target that may potentially improve the clinical outcome of sepsis. MOD indicates multiple organ dysfunction.