Highlight: Mitochondrial Mechanisms in Septic Cardiomyopathy

The review article, “Mitochondrial Mechanisms in Septic Cardiomyopathy” by Cimolai and colleagues, examines the role that mitochondria may play in the pathogenesis of cardiac dysfunction, a well-described, life-threatening complication in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock. Despite current therapies that mostly aim to reduce systemic infection and inflammation, sepsis remains the biggest risk factor for mortality among patients in critical condition. The authors elegantly discuss several possible mitochondrial mechanisms underlying septic cardiomyopathy and present studies that strongly support impaired energetics per se, rather than inflammation, as essential for treating cardiac dysfunction in order to improve outcome in septic patients.