Traumatic Injury as the Inciting Event of Inflammation leading to Sepsis and Cardiovascular Disease: Review of the Literature

This paper covers trauma as the inciting event of sepsis, complement, procalcitonin, neutrophils in trauma, innate inflammation, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and stress disorders related to posttraumatic stress disorder. Trauma exposure and elevated post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms may increase risk of CVD and autoimmunity. Trauma can also induce immune function changes, which can lead to both pro-inflammatory activation known as systemic inflammation response syndrome (SIRS), coronary artery disease, neutrophil extracellular traps. Autoimmunity especially related to systemic lupus erythematosus and lupus nephritis, atherosclerosis, atherosclerotic plaques, reactive oxygen species, the role of interferons and the inflammasome is also included. Therefore, a review of the literature in these areas is important especially for cardiologists related to the many facets of cardiovascular disease.