Assessment of immunocompetence in post-surgical and post-traumatic patients

C. R. Spillert, W. D. Suval, E. J. Lazaro

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Alterations in human monocyte function have been shown to correlate with decreased immunocompetence. It is also known that shortening of the recalcification time of blood incubated with endotoxin is directly related to the increase in synthesis of tissue thromboplastin by monocytes. Thromboplastin generation by monocytes is a marker of the activation of this cell. This information was utilized to develop a test for determining the likelihood of survival in potentially septic post-operative and/or post-traumatic patients. Venous blood was obtained from adult patients 24-48 hours after operation and/or injury. Aliquots of blood were added to saline and to saline containing endotoxin. After incubation, the recalcification time of the saline-treated blood divided by that of the endotoxin treated blood was expressed as the monocyte activation index in each patient. All patients were categorically divided into two groups, survivors and non-survivors. All non-survivors succumbed to multisystem failure due to sepsis, while all survivors had recovered without multisystem failure. The mean monocyte activation index of 1.41 ± 2.3 in the nonsurvivor group was significantly lower than the index of 2.44 ± .97 in the survivor group.

Original languageAmerican English
Pages (from-to)31-34
Number of pages4
JournalSurgical Research Communications
Volume10
Issue number1
StatePublished - 1991

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery

Keywords

  • monocyte function post operative
  • post traumatic survival
  • thromboplastin generation

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