Sixty-three patients with multiple trauma (ISS 31 ± 15 points) and 11 healthy volunteers (control group) were enrolled. Blood samples were taken on admission (D0) and daily for the following 5 d. The percentages of MDC and PDC were determined by flow cytometry.
A significant decline of the MDC concentration was observable on days 3 to 5 after admission in comparison to the values obtained on the day of admission. The ratio of MDC to PDC decreased significantly (3-fold, P < 0.05). This reduction correlated significantly with changes observed in the plasma concentrations of IL-10 (r = 0.5; P < 0.05).
Our data demonstrate that multiple trauma is followed by a marked change in the subpopulation composition of the DC compartment, and that these changes are inversely associated with enhanced IL-10 plasma concentrations. This imbalance in the DC compartment favoring PDC concentrations may contribute to the immunological alterations that are observed following multiple trauma.