Aims of the study were to find vascular markers of inflammation and endothelial damage during the course of severe sepsis in septic patients and the effects of treatment with anti-inflammatory medication (such as Drotregocin alfa (activated)). Another aim is to find new markers and gene polymorphisms for prognosis and mortality of patients with severe sepsis. The hypothesis is that higher plasma concentrations of certain markers in septic patients are associated with a higher mortality rate.