The effects of septic complications upon the serum protein changes associated with thermal injury.

The levels of 12 serum proteins including 'acute-phase reactants', immunoglobulins and albumin were measured in 20 patients suffering from thermal burns. The acute-phase reactants: C-reactive protein, alpha-l antitrypsin, alpha-l antichymotrypsin, haptoglobin and orosomucoid, all increased in concentration. Highest levels, which showed significant correlations with injury severity, occurred at 6-8 days post-burn. The levels of albumin, alpha-l lipoprotein and transferrin were decreased. The immunoglobulins IgG, IgA and IgM showed an initial decrease followed by a steady return to normal levels. Four patients, of whom three died, developed serious sepsis. The levels of alpha-l antichymotrypsin and C-reactive protein were much higher in patients with sepsis than in those without sepsis. The highest levels occurred during and often before the episode of sepsis was clinically evident. The immunoglobulins especially IgG and IgA were lower in those patients who developed sepsis than in those who did not. The results suggest that the serum levels of either C-reactive protein or alpha-l antichymotrypsin could be used both as an aid to diagnosis of sepsis and also to monitor the effect of therapy.