Bioenergetic imbalance and oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of septic encephalopathy

Septic encephalopathy is a frequent complication in severe sepsis but its pathogenesis and mechanisms are not fully understood. Oxygen supply and utilization are critical for organ function, especially for the brain, a tissue extremely dependent on oxygen and glucose. Disturbances in oxygen utilization are common in sepsis and a number of mitochondrial dysfunctions have been described in different tissues in septic animals as well as in septic patients. Our group described mitochondrial dysfunctions in the brain during experimental sepsis.