Alteration of the immune system in burns and implications for therapy

Following thermal injury profound alterations occur in the arachidonic acid cascade, and the cytokine cascade. There are further alterations in cell mediated immunity affecting all cells of the immune system, and the neuro endocrine axis. There are profound changes in humoral immunity as well. Experimental approaches to alterations in the above systems indicate that success can be obtained in restoring normality of any individual alteration in a suitable experimental model. However, before clinical intervention can be successful, it is likely that a combination of interventional mordalities will need to be used.