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©Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2026. No commercial re-use. See Permissions. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc.
World J Crit Care Med. Mar 9, 2026; 15(1): 114670
Published online Mar 9, 2026. doi: 10.5492/wjccm.v15.i1.114670
Dysregulation of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone axis in septic shock: Emerging roles of angiotensin-(1-5) and alamandine
Arunkumaar Srinivasan, Ponnsusamy Dhivya
Arunkumaar Srinivasan, Department of GI and Renal Critical Care, Apollo Hospital, Chennai 600006, Tamil Nadu, India
Ponnsusamy Dhivya, Department of Pediatrics, Sri Lalithambigai Medical College and Hospital, Chennai 600095, Tamil Nadu, India
Co-first authors: Arunkumaar Srinivasan and Ponnsusamy Dhivya.
Author contributions: Srinivasan A and Dhivya P contributed equally in preparing the manuscript as co-first authors.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors declare no conflict of interest in publishing the manuscript.
Corresponding author: Arunkumaar Srinivasan, Consultant, Department of GI and Renal Critical Care, Apollo Hospital, Greams Lane, Chennai 600006, Tamil Nadu, India. arundec06@gmail.com
Received: September 25, 2025
Revised: November 21, 2025
Accepted: January 26, 2026
Published online: March 9, 2026
Processing time: 156 Days and 12.8 Hours
Core Tip

Core Tip: Septic shock, as defined by sepsis-3, is a severe form of sepsis marked by high mortality, requiring vasopressors to maintain mean arterial pressure ≥ 65 mmHg and lactate > 2 mmol/L despite fluids. It involves circulatory and metabolic failure. Normally, the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone axis and sympathetic nervous system maintain vascular tone and volume. In septic shock, dysregulation occurs: Reduced angiotensin (Ang)-converting enzyme activity lowers Ang II and blunts vasoconstriction, while counter-regulatory pathways via Ang-converting enzyme 2-Ang-(1–7)-mas receptor promote vasodilation. Emerging metabolites like Ang-(1–5) and alamandine show cardioprotective roles, suggesting therapeutic potential in rebalancing renin-Ang-aldosterone signaling for refractory shock.