Re: How does being burned by fire decrease the immune response in the body?

The global effects of burn injury on the immune system are reflected by the fact that infection remains the number one cause of death after burns. (Pruitt, B.A.: The diagnosis and treatment of infection in the burn patient. Burns, 11:79, 1984.) The destruction of skin that is the mechanical barrier to foreign organisms contributed to the susceptibility to infection. Post burn alterations in immune system are also very important. The impairment in cellular immunity is proportional to the size of the burn. Alterations in the number and function of lymphocytes occur after burns. Total lymphocyte counts decrease in the first week after burns.(Sakai et al: Mixed lymphocyte culture reaction in patients with acute thermal burns. J. trauma, 14:53, 1974) Serum immunoglobulin G (Ig G) levels are decreased after burn injury. The stimulated lymphocytes are resistant to further immune stimulation. (Deitch et al. Post burn impaired cell mediated immunity may not be due to lazy lymphocytes but to over work. Ann. Surg, 201:793, 1985) Alterations in IL-2 production are also noted. Natural killer cell activity of peripheral blood lymphocytes is also depressed due to circulating endotoxins. Polymorphonuclear leuckocytes exhibit reduced chemotactic activity. other immunosuppressive factors have been identified in serum of burn patients, including a 10,000 dalton polypeptide, complement degradation products and immunoglobulin fragments breakdown products of coagulation and fibrinolytic systems prostaglandins and endotoxin. Overall these defects lead to increased susceptibility to sepsis.