title: Unusual anaphylatoxin dynamics after head injury--case report.
abstract: The case reported exemplifies a clinical picture markedly at variance with the chronology of symptoms and laboratory findings generally held to be typical in patients with post-traumatic shock. During a protracted clinical course this young man with a skull fracture and epidural haematoma experienced profound hypotension and adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) well in advance of marked fourfold rise of circulating peripheral C3a desArg anaphylatoxin levels. This raises a note of caution with regard to diagnostic and/or therapeutic decisions based on anaphylatoxin assessment of neurosurgical trauma patients at risk of ARDS.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000706:Anaphylatoxins / Q000378:metabolism*; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000276:immunology; D003167:Complement Activation; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000378:metabolism; D015926:Complement C3a; D006407:Hematoma, Epidural, Cranial / Q000276:immunology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000097:blood; D011379:Prognosis; D012086:Reoperation; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000276:immunology* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D000706:Anaphylatoxins; D003176:Complement C3; D010455:Peptides; D015926:Complement C3a