Granulocyte kinetics in burns

Granulocytes, predominantly polymorphonuclear neutrophils, are the major components of the body's defense against acute infections. Starting from pioneering work done 20 years ago by Alexander and coworkers, neutrophil dysfunction after major thermal injury has been well documented. Defects in neutrophil function have been recognized as being serum-borne. Additionally, a review of granulocyte function in burns was presented in 1984, at the Conference on the Immune Consequences of Thermal and Traumatic Injuries. Because of methodologic difficulties, however, our knowledge of granulocyte kinetics has increased very slowly. Although the bone marrow produces 1.5 billion granulocytes per kg body weight per day and the marrow granulocyte reserve is enormous, the hematopoietic tissues, along with the release, distribution, and possible role of granulocytes in the pathophysiology of burns, have not been studied thoroughly. This article presents a current review of our knowledge of granulocyte kinetics in burns and the production and possible fate of granulocytes in tissues.