The Effect of Erythropietin on Microcircualtory Alteration in Intensive Care Unit Patients With Severe Sepsis

Inclusion criteria

• ✓. Two or more criteria for the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS):
• ✓. Suspected or confirmed source of infection
• ✓. Severe Sepsis: Sepsis with at least one organ dysfunction defined as urine output \< 0.5 ml/kg/hr for 1 hour, PaO2/FiO2 \< 250 (less than 200 if lung is the only dysfunctional organ), platelets \< 80 x109/L or a 50% decrease from baseline in the past 3 days, or pH \< 7.30 or lactate \> 1.5 mmole/L upper normal with base deficit \> 5
• ✓. Septic shock \<48hrs: Persistent arterial hypotension with a systolic pressure \< 90 mmHg or a MAP \< 60 mmHg or a reduction of in systolic blood pressure \> 40 mmHg from baseline, despite adequate fluid resuscitation in the absence of other cause for hypotension or requiring the administration of a pressor agent to maintain the above blood pressure.