Critical care focus - Helen Galley

This issue of the critical care focus series addresses aspects of the immune and inflammatory responses relevant to critical illness. It includes overviews of neutrophil function, apoptosis, metalloproteinases and T cells. In addition, the concept of immune paralysis as a contributor to the mortality of sepsis is discussed, and a comprehensive report on the current thinking regarding glucocorticoid therapy. There is also an interesting chapter describing the 'killer within' – the way in viruses are able to modulate host immune responses to their own benefit.