Immunologic sequelae of thermal injury autoantibodies in acute adult burn patients.

Indirect immunofluorescent (IF) studies have demonstrated the presence of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and antibodies reactive with the intercellular area (IC), basement membrane zone, and basal cells of autologous and allogeneic unburned skin in the sera of acute adult burn patients. Further demonstration in burn patients of the occurrence of peripheral ANA masquerading as IC antibodies is presented. In keeping with previous IF identifications of autoantibodies in burn patients, there was no significant relationship between the frequency and titer of these antibodies according to the extent of total body surface burn area and third degree burn area. The possible role of epithelial antibodies in the maintenance of host resistance, as previously suggested, is considered in brief.