“It all comes down to the pathophysiology.  Sepsis ultimately results from a complex interaction of pro-inflammatory, anti-inflammatory, activated complement system, and coagulation mediators that in association with detector and signaling markers, trigger a host response. Initiators (microbes, trauma, hypoxia, ischemia, toxins) cause local tissue damage, which release local pro- and anti-inflammatory markers. Proinflammatory signalers include TNF, IL-1, and IL-6, while anti-inflammatory markers include IL-4, IL-10, IL-11 and soluble TNF receptors. These are designed to function and contain at a local level. If the initiators overwhelm the local response, the mediators affect multiple systems in the body: dermal, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, renal, neurologic, hematologic/coagulopathic, pulmonary, and endocrine.^3,4 All of these mimics have a similar endgame: triggering a systemic reaction that looks just like sepsis.”

emDOCS (http://www.emdocs.net/mimics-of-sepsis/)