Open AccessAGING AND ANIMAL MODELS OF SYSTEMIC INSULT
Author(s) -
Vanessa Nomellini,
Christian R. Gómez,
Richard L. Gamelli,
Elizabeth J. Kovacs
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
shock
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.095
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1540-0514
pISSN - 1073-2322
DOI - 10.1097/shk.0b013e318180f508
Subject(s) - insult , medicine , sepsis , intensive care medicine , systemic inflammatory response syndrome , immunology , philosophy , linguistics
In the acute-care setting, it is widely accepted that elderly patients have increased morbidity and mortality compared with young healthy patients. The reasons for this, however, are largely unknown. Although animal modeling has helped improve treatment strategies for young patients, there are a scarce number of studies attempting to understand the mechanisms of systemic insults such as trauma, burn, and sepsis in aged individuals. This review aims to highlight the relevance of using animals to study the pathogenesis of these insults in the aged and, despite the deficiency of information, to summarize what is currently known in this field.