title: Respiratory burst capability of polymorphonuclear neutrophils and TNF-alpha serum levels in relationship to the development of septic syndrome in critically ill patients.
abstract: Activated polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) and neutrophil activating mediators such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) are thought to be involved in the pathophysiology of sepsis and multiple organ failure syndrome (MOFS). In critically ill patients at high risk for the development of septic syndrome (n = 17) peripheral blood PMN were assayed for O2- and H2O2 production after stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA, 40 nM). Serum TNF-alpha levels were determined by ELISA. At the time of admission to the intensive care unit we found significant higher levels of TNF-alpha (P = 0.0001) in the serum of patients finally developing sepsis correlating to higher respiratory burst capability in comparison to nonseptic patients. Additionally we were able to demonstrate a significant (P = 0.0016) lower dismutation rate of O2- to H2O2 in deceased patients in comparison to survivors. These results give further evidence that elevated levels of circulating TNF-alpha and activated PMN play a significant role in the pathogenesis of septic syndrome in critically ill patients.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Dermatology, University of Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Trautinger
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Hammerle
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pöschl
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Micksche
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003422:Critical Care; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000502:physiology*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013481:Superoxides / Q000097:blood*; D013577:Syndrome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D013481:Superoxides