Systemic inflammatory response syndrome

• A. Sepsis
• B. Septic Shock
• C. Hypotension in Sepsis
• D. SIRS

Answer: (D)

Systemic inflammatory response syndrome is the body's widespread inflammatory reaction to a stimulus. It’s diagnosed when at least two of these signs are present: fever above 38°C or hypothermia below 36°C; a heart rate over 90 beats per minute; rapid breathing (or a low PaCO2); and an abnormal white blood cell count (too high, too low, or with a high percentage of immature forms). This pattern reflects a body-wide inflammatory state that can be caused by infection but also by noninfectious insults like trauma or pancreatitis. Because of that, SIRS is defined by the systemic inflammatory response itself rather than by the presence of infection.

Sepsis, in contrast, is SIRS occurring in the setting of an infection. Septic shock is a more severe progression where sepsis leads to persistent low blood pressure despite fluids and often requires vasopressors. So the term describing the systemic inflammatory response alone is the one that matches SIRS.