Reticuloendothelial System Activity and Organ Failure in Patients With Multiple Injuries

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Abstract
THE PATHOGENESIS of multiple organ failure (MOF) has been attributed to disturbances of the intestinal barrier and the systemic immunologic response.1 These mechanisms suggest that a loss of intestinal barrier function associated with increased intestinal permeability allows systemic invasion of intestinal pathogens.2-5 In turn, intestinal permeability damage, which has been demonstrated after trauma and burns, may pave the way for further translocation of intestinal bacteria and bacterial endotoxin.1,2,6 In combination with other stimuli, endotoxin is able to cause MOF in sheep.7 Some authors have attributed the development of organ failure to overwhelming invasion of bacteria and endotoxins, exceeding the capacity of bacterial clearance of the reticuloendothelial system (RES).8

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