Thymostimulin in the antiinfectious treatment in patients with burns

Abstract

The most frequent cause of death in patients with severe burns is septicemia. Septicemia correlates with a decreased cellular immune defence in the patient. In the case of our patients with severe burns particularly a T-lymphocyte deficiency could be detected. This cellular immune deficiency induced by the thermic trauma was treated with thymostimulin (TP-1 Serono), an immunomodulating polypeptide preparation, which mainly influences T-lymphocytes. In this connection the efficacy of thymostimulin should be tested with respect to the incidence and course of the septicemia in patients with burns. 90 patients with burns of second and third degree and a risk of mortality of more than 20% according to Lynch have been included in the study. The efficacy of thymostimulin was proved by means of immunological tests and in the assessment of the posttraumatic clinical course. In the patient group treated with thymostimulin we were able to observe a significantly higher power of resistance to infections. This not only resulted in a decreased absolute mortality but also in a decreased mortality due to septicemia. The incidence of sepsis, however, could not be significantly influenced by the treatment. The E-rosette positive cells (= T-lymphocytes) as well as the T gamma-cells which are also responsible for the suppressor cell activity, could be normalized by the treatment, whereas the alterations of the TIa (turbidimetric immunoassay) positive cells were less evident.