Changes in granulocyte chemiluminescence and plasma fibronectin concentrations following major blunt trauma

Chemiluminescence activity of granulocytes in phagocytosis of zymosan and Escherichia coli and their responses to chemoattractant N-formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) were evaluated in 13 major blunt trauma patients (Injury Severity Score 31 +/- 6) and their plasma fibronectin concentrations were measured. Chemiluminescence responses to zymosan and E. coli were at control levels immediately after injury and a week thereafter, but responses to FMLP were increased compared to the controls (p less than 0.05). Plasma fibronectin concentrations were depressed on the day after trauma (p less than 0.001) but increased to control values over 1 week. The changes had no correlation with the patients' recovery.