Immunologic sequelae of thermal injury.

Abstract

Summary1) Thermal injury induces a marked inhibition in the ability of tuberculin‐sensitive guinea pigs to respond to intradermal challenge with tuberculin. The effect is most marked during the first and second weeks after burning, but may persist as long as five weeks.2) Thoracic duct lymph samples obtained from severely burned rats contain a hemagglutinin specific for rat erythrocytes. This hemagglutinating factor has been identified as a 7S gamma globulin, and may constitute an immune response to altered autologous tissues.