Humoral-phagocyte axis of immune defense in burn patients. Chemoluminigenic probing
R. C. Allen and B. A. Pruitt Jr
Both serum opsonic capacity and granulocyte oxygenation activity were
measured in 35 burn patients during their course of therapy. The
microbicidal action of granulocytes is effected via the metabolic
generation of oxygenating agents; introduction of chemoluminigenic
substrates, such as luminol or dimethyl biacridinium dinitrate, allows
ultrasensitive measurement of phagocyte oxygenation activity. Serum opsonic
capacity can also be assayed by measuring the rate of activation of
phagocyte oxygenation activity. Alterations in granulocyte oxygenation
activity were observed in individuals patients in temporal association with
changes in clinical condition, and sepsis was associated with a marked
decrease in activity. An initial depression in opsonic capacity was noted
at the time of admission of patients with major burns, more than 40% total
body surface. Thereafter, depression of opsonic capacity was temporally
associated with sepsis in individual patients. Chemoluminigenic probing
provides a rapid, sensitive, and objective method for assessing the status
of the humoral-phagocyte axis, and as a clinical laboratory technique is
particularly applicable for monitoring patient populations in which sepsis
is prevalent.
