Vascular bed-specific hemostasis: Role of endothelium in sepsis pathogenesis

In sepsis, coagulation is initiated by the extrinsic pathway and is amplified through the intrinsic pathway. In addition, the body's natural anticoagulant mechanisms are significantly dampened. Together, these changes result in a net imbalance of hemostasis. The nature of this imbalance varies from one vascular bed to the next according to the local set point of the endothelium. These concepts lay an important foundation for understanding the pathophysiology of sepsis.