Reducing Elevated Heart Rate in Patients With Severe Sepsis by Ivabradine

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Severe sepsis due to coronary and non-coronary etiology 2. Severe sepsis diagnosed ≤ 24 h 3. Sinus rhythm with heart rate ≥ 100bpm 4. Written informed consent or identified or suspected positive will with respect to the trial treatment Exclusion Criteria: 1. Patients who have not yet completed the 18th year of age 2. Pregnancy, lactation 3. Patients with a history of pre-existing chronic renal failure with a glomerular filtration rate \<30ml/min 4. severe hepatic insufficiency 5. Sick sinus syndrome 6. Sinu-atrial block 7. pacemaker-dependency 8.3rd degree AV block 9.Use of potent cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibitors such as antifungals of the azole -type (ketoconazole, itraconazole), macrolide antibiotics (clarithromycin, erythromycin per os, josamycin, telithromycin), HIV protease inhibitors (nelfinavir, ritonavir) and nefazodone (see Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC))