SUPPRESSIVE SERUM, SUPPRESSOR LYMPHOCYTES, AND DEATH FROM BURNS

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 193  (4) , 513-520
Abstract
Both suppressor lymphocytes and serum immunosuppressive factors were found in patients who had major thermal burns, and may inhibit host resistance to the bacteria invariably present in burn wounds. The relationship and clinical importance of these 2 manifestations of impaired immune reactivity are poorly understood. Patients (18) (aged 20-84 yr) with full thickness burns of varying severity have been studied, and the clinical course related to the presence of nonspecific immunosuppressive serum and circulating suppressor lymphocytes. Serum factors capable of suppressing the phytohemagglutinin (PHA) response of normal lymphocytes usually appeared early and were detected in 15 of the 18 patients at some time during the illness. Of these patients, 13 developed systemic infection. Depression of the peripheral blood lymphocyte PHA response was much less common and was associated with a high mortality. Of the 8 patients with this finding, 5 died. No patients who did not have severe depression of the lymphocyte PHA response died. Nonadherent leukocyte (NA leukocyte) populations exhibiting a depressed PHA response were capable of suppressing the normal human lymphocyte PHA response and contained suppressor cells.