Zinc Therapy in Critical Illness

"A group of 10 mechanically ventilated patients with severe sepsis will be randomized to receive 500mcg/kg IBW elemental zinc (IV) or placebo. The dose will be escalated by 250mcg/kg IBW every 10 subjects to ceiling dose of 1250 mcg/kg IBW or until toxicity develops.~A group of healthy volunteers will also receive IV zinc (as a single dose) and the PK will be compared to that in patients with sepsis."