Association between High Levels of Blood Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor, Inappropriate Adrenal Response, and Early Death in Patients with Severe Sepsis

Abstract

Background.Identification of new therapeutic targets remains an imperative goal to improve the morbidity and mortality associated with severe sepsis and septic shock. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), a proinflammatory cytokine and counterregulator of glucocorticoids, has recently emerged as a critical mediator of innate immunity and experimental sepsis, and it is an attractive new target for the treatment of sepsis.