The Effects of Traumatic Burn Injury on the Humoral Immune Response

Abstract

For more than two decades it has been recognized that major traumatic or burn injury may result in a depressed immune response and that this depression may lead to increased susceptibility to life-threatening infections. This review addresses the effects of trauma and burn injury on the humoral immune response-synthesis of immunoglobulins and antibody response to foreign antigens and results of therapy with immunoglobulins. Although there may be controversy over decreases or increases It is clear that there are abnormalities of Ig synthesis following major injury. Whether these are expressed as decreases from normal or as supra normal depends on the time after injury, the Ig being measured, the type of injury and the presence of infection. What is more clear is that the ability of the injured patient to respond to a protein antigen challenge is suppressed after major injury or surgery. Studies in burn/trauma patients and correlations in animal models suggest that this defect in antibody production is caused at least in part by a defect in T cell function.