Experimental Sepsis Models: Advantages and Limitations

Abstract

Sepsis is a major health problem that causes millions of deaths worldwide every year. Due to the complexity of its pathophysiology, there is no clear treatment method for it. Existing treatments impose an additional financial burden on the health systems of countries every year. Clinical and preclinical studies are continuously being conducted in order to prevent the development of sepsis, treat patients with sepsis, reduce mortality, and solve the socioeconomic problems that arise from it. However, it is not possible to directly test every study and potential new treatment in humans. Preclinical studies enable an understanding of pathophysiological events and the development of targeted therapies. For this purpose, many experimental sepsis models have been and continue to be applied. The extent to which these models can reflect the human sepsis condition is an important issue that needs to be emphasized. Each method has different strengths and weaknesses. Researchers should choose the most appropriate experimental model according to the characteristics of the experiments they plan and, if possible, conduct their studies on different models.