Complement activation and neutrophil dysfunction in burned patients with sepsis--a study of two cases

The changes in complement components and neutrophil functions were investigated in two cases of flame burn patients who died of multiple organ failure following septic shock. In the period of bacteremia, complement activation was observed in the plasma of both patients, using an immunoblotting method demonstrating C3a-related antigens. Coincidently, reduced neutrophil function and a decrease in the superoxide and leukotriene producing capacity, were also observed. An in vitro study showed that the capacity to produce superoxide and leukotriene became reduced in normal neutrophils after exposure to complement activated serum. These observations suggested that complement activation, probably brought about by massive bacterial infection, induced the impairment of neutrophil functions and resulted in a further breakdown of the host defence system, thereby leading to sepsis.