Time course of CD marker expression in patients with burns and its prognostic value

Introduction

Due to immune suppression sepsis has remained the leading cause of mortality after burns. CD marker expression in circulating blood has not been fully examined in humans. The aim of our study was to asses CD marker expression after burns and to compare it between survivors and non-survivors.

Patients and methods

Blood samples from all patients (n = 35) receiving intensive care treatment with more than 20% burned surface area were collected on admission and 5 consecutive days thereafter. Expressions of CD11a, CD11b, CD18, CD49d, CD97 and CD14 were measured on granulocytes, lymphocytes and monocytes.

Results

Expressions of granulocytes CD11a (days 1–2), CD18 (day 1), lymphocytes CD11a (days 1–5), CD11b (days 2–4), CD18 (days 1–6), CD49d (days 1–6), CD97 (day 1), monocytes CD11a (days 1–6), CD11b (day 2 and 5–6), CD18 (days 1–6), CD49d (days 1–6), CD97 (days 1–2), and CD14 (days 4–6) were significantly lower in patients than in healthy controls.Expressions of granulocyte CD11a (days 3–6), lymphocytes CD11a (days 3–6), CD11b (days 4–6), CD18 (days 4–6), monocyte CD97 (days 3–6) were significantly higher in survivors (n = 20) than in non-survivors (n = 15).

Conclusion

These results suggest that burns is associated with immunosuppression and overwhelming anti-inflammatory processes may be signs of bad prognosis.