Kinetics of peripheral blood T cell numbers and functions in patients with burns.

Cell-mediated immunity (CMI) was assessed in 58 patients with burns involving 10% to 40% of the total body surface area (TBSA), and in 16 normal healthy individuals, by using two parameters, the total T-cell counts in peripheral circulation and T-cell function as indicated by the leukocyte migration inhibition (LMI) test. Three recall antigens from Candida albicans, S. typhi, and E. histolytica were used to elicit the LMI. T-cell function was found to be significantly depressed in burns involving more than 25% TBSA. Depression of T-cell function started after the seventh postburn (PB) day and continued until the sixtieth PB day.