Immunoglobulin production in burned patients.

To further characterize immunologic alterations found in thermally injured patients, a series of experiments dealing with lymphocyte immunoglobulin production were performed. Circulating immunoglobulin levels were measured, plasma antitetanus toxoid was quantitated, and lymphocytes were cultured and in vitro immunoglobulin production recorded. Postburn circulating immunoglobulins were initially depressed but returned to normal at a variable rate. We found a normal response to rechallenge with tetanus toxoid. However, culture of lymphocytes in vitro showed that lymphocytes from burned patients had an elevated spontaneous immunoglobulin production and no augmentation with mitogen stimulation. This alteration in immunoglobulin production was not found in a group of postoperative or trauma patients and appears to be unique to burned patients.