The influence of sepsis as a complication after trauma on immune response to injury

Abstract

Introduction. Mortality rate in trauma complicated with sepsis is exceeding 50%. Outcome is not determined only by infection or trauma, but also by the intensity of immuno-inflammatory response. Objective. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of sepsis on the immuno-inflammatory response, in the group of 35 traumatized men, of which in 25 cases trauma was complicated with sepsis. Methods. Cytokines were measured by ELISA test in plasma. Blood samples were drown on the first, third and fifth day after ICU admission. Results. Proinflammatory cytokine IL-8 was 230-fold higher in trauma + sepsis group (1148.48 vs. 5.05 pg/ml; p<0.01), and anti- inflammatory cytokine IL-1ra was 4-fold higher (1138.3 vs. 310.05 pg/ml; p<0.01), whereas IL-12 and IL-4 showed no significant difference between the groups. Conclusion. We concluded that sepsis, as a complication after trauma, drastically enhances immuno-inflammatory response to insult, as indicated by IL-8 and IL-1ra, but not IL-12 and IL-4.