Plasma tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels in patients with burns.
Levels of plasma tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were determined consecutively in 42 patients with burns > 20 per cent of the total body surface area using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In the early period after injury (including the period of burn shock), 24 patients had detectable TNF-alpha levels in their plasma. However, the plasma TNF-alpha levels at the time of admission were very low and did not correlate with the extent of the burn or the prognosis. In contrast, the maximum plasma TNF-alpha level over the whole clinical course was significantly correlated with the area of the burn and the prognosis. No correlation was found between the plasma TNF-alpha and plasma endotoxin levels. TNF-alpha may be produced locally in infected burns and monitoring of plasma TNF-alpha levels may be a useful prognostic indicator for burns patients.
Endo
S
S
Critical Care and Emergency Center, Iwate Medical University, Morioka, Japan.
Inada
K
K
Yamada
Y
Y
Kasai
T
T
Takakuwa
T
T
Nakae
H
H
Kikuchi
M
M
Hoshi
S
S
Suzuki
M
M
Yamashita
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002056:Burns / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000097:blood; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis*
D004731:Endotoxins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha