[The prognostic implication of determination of activation of leucocyte in severe burns]

Using NBT test, the relationship between the percentage change of activated neutrophils with the survival time of animals after severe burns was observed. The results showed that the NBT positive rate of neutrophils increased markedly after burn, and the NBT positive rate at 5 h postburn was negatively related to the survival time of burned animals. Continuous monitoring of neutrophil indicated that if the NBT positive rate after burn remained in the normal range, or increased initially to high level and then decreased to lower than normal, the survival time was longer. However, if the NBT positive rate increased continuously after burn, the survival time was shorter. Therefore, continuous assay of neutrophil activation with NBT is an important index for the prognosis of severe burns. Lowering of NBT positive rate was observed in rats treated with polygonum cuspidatum, and these rats lived much longer than those without the treatment.