Endotoxemia and complement activation after severe burn injuries - Effects on leukocytes, soluble selectins, and inflammatory cytokines

In this study we followed the development of an inflammatory response in a group of patients the first week after a burn in July. We detected elevated plasma endotoxin levels, on at least one occasion, in 6 of 8 patients. No endotoxin was detected in the two patients with the lowest total burned surface area (less than or equal to 30%). We found evidence of complement activation as increased C3a levels, in parallel with a production of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-6). The TNF-alpha levels increased significantly during the observation period, while the IL-6 levels were elevated already at admission, and remained so. Elevated levels of soluble E-selectin were detected, indicating endothelial cell activation. Despite the inflammatory response and a loss of inflammatory cells during the first days of the monitoring period, we found no evidence of cellular activation measured as increased expression of beta 2 integrin CD11b, nor increased plasma levels of soluble L-selectin.