A comparison of leukocyte function and burn mortality

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Burn Injury Research
• Critical Care Medicine

Background:

• Leukocyte bactericidal competency is crucial in major thermal injury.
• Chemotaxis has been suggested to reflect both leukocyte dysfunction and patient mortality.
• Validating predictive markers for survival in burn patients is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate the reliability of the functional chemotactic index (FCI) as a predictor of mortality in burn patients.
• To compare FCI with nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction and O2 consumption in assessing host defense impairments.

Main Methods:

• Leukocytes were analyzed from 33 patients with >= 30% total body surface area burns.
• Functional chemotactic index (FCI) was measured.
• Nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction and O2 consumption assays were performed.

Main Results:

• FCI values were significantly decreased in burn patients compared to normal controls.
• No significant differences in FCI were observed between surviving and nonsurviving patients.
• NBT reduction and O2 consumption showed significant decreases, with differences between survivors and nonsurvivors.

Conclusions:

• While FCI, NBT reduction, and O2 consumption indicate impaired host defense in burn patients, they are not reliable predictors of patient survival.
• These laboratory tests should not be interpreted as indices of patient survival in major thermal injury.