Plasma filtration in sepsis: a research protocol

Sepsis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in intensive care units (ICUs) worldwide [1]. The mortality rate in sepsis ranges from 20% to 70%, depending on the severity of the disease, the time treatment is started, the number of affected organs and the study design [2]. It has recently been described as the tenth most frequent cause of death in North America [3]. Septic shock, the most severe complication of sepsis, is characterised by a high rate of hospital mortality: 62.8% in the GiViTI (Gruppo Italiano per la Valutazione degli Interventi in Terapia Intensiva) cohort in 2004 [4], which is in line with that reported in other European series [5].