Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and tumor necrosis factor receptor I, II levels in patients with severe burns

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and tumor necrosis factor receptor I and Il (TNFRI and TNFRII) were studied in 24 burn patients who had a tota l burn surface area (TBSA) of 50.2 +/- 20.4%. Immediately after the injury, both the TNFRI and TNFRII levels correlated significantly with TBSA (r = 0 .7344, P < 0.0001; r = 0.6074, P = 0.0012). The TNFRI and TNFRII levels imm ediately after the injury were significantly higher in the 11 patients who later died of their burns than in the 13 patients who survived (0.8 +/- 0.4 ng/ml vs. 1.8 +/- 0.7 ng/ml, P = 0.0002; 2.3 +/- 1.1 ng;ml vs. 4.5 +/- 1.6 ng/ml, P = 0.0009). The TNF-alpha levels immediately after the injury did not differ significantly between the group that survived and the group that died. The TNFRI and TNFRII values for the entire follow-up period also cor related significantly with TBSA. Peak TNFRI and TNFRII levels were signific antly higher in the group that died than in the group that survived (6.0 +/ - 4.7 ng/ml vs. 14.1 +/- 7.8 ng/ml, P = 0.0009; 7.0 +/- 5.1 ng/ml vs. 16.7 +/- 5.2 ng/ml, P = 0.0003). The TNF-alpha levels correlated significantly w ith both the TNFRI and the TNFRII levels. The TNFRI and TNFRII levels thus closely reflected the severity of the burns in both the acute postburn peri od and the subsequent follow-up period. In other words, these parameters we ll reflected the severity and outcome of the burns, irrespective of the pre sence or absence of accompanying infection. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd a nd ISBI. All rights reserved.