[Mediators in septic shock: strategies of securing them and assessment of their causal significance].
More than 100 different mediators are discussed as being responsible for the progression of the septic shock syndrome. A new concept is described to establish the causal role of a single mediator by using a decision tree which excludes different non-causal associations (different kinds of bias and chance). By definition of several criteria and methodological standards, the published studies on mediator release/formation could be analysed and evaluated (meta-analysis). Furthermore, the classical concept of one cause--one disease (Koch-Dale) is extended to a concept of multiple determining factors. The role of a single mediator can be assessed quantitatively by notation of conditional probabilities in the presence of other causal factors. A mediator can be classified as a necessary, sufficient or contributory determinant in septic shock. Improved therapeutic concepts can be expected from this approach.