Bound and soluble adhesion molecule and cytokine levels in patients with severe burns

We measured endotoxins, inflammatory cytokines and soluble adhesion molecul es in the blood of 17 severe burn patients to determine the involvement of these factors in the pathophysiology of severe burns. All seventeen patient s had burns with a total burn surface area of 20% or more and a burn index of 15% or more. Endotoxin was measured by an endotoxin-specific assay and t umor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin 6 and interleukin 8 and soluble adh esion molecules were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. CD11a, CD11b and CD18, measured by flow cytometry, were elevated in the non-surviv ing group, the septic shock group and the multiple organ dysfunction syndro me group, suggesting a close connection between these adhesion molecules an d burns complicated by infection. Soluble adhesion molecules were found to indirectly reflect the level of endothelial cell adhesion molecules, sugges ting that inflammatory cytokines may also be involved in their production. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.