Humoral immunodeficiency syndrome in patients with severe head injury?

Twenty patients with severe head injury were analysed as to whether they developed a humoral immunodeficiency syndrome. In spite of the fact that 75% developed pyogenic complications all patients showed a polyclonal humoral activation of their immune system with an increase in IgG, IgA, IgM and the complement factors. Four patients died from cerebral complications partly associated with infections.

Neopterin production in inflamed knee joints: high levels in synovial fluids.

Neopterin levels of serum and fluid were determined in 30 patients with inflammatory synovial fluids and in 30 controls with joint effusions induced by trauma or osteoarthritis. Neopterin was significantly elevated in inflammatory fluids. There was no correlation with the acute phase reactants.

[Circulating immune complexes and complement factors in patients following cardiosurgical operations].

In patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery complement levels and immune complexes dropped significantly immediately after surgery, followed by a late rise in not complement fixing IC, suspected to be the product of polyclonal immune stimulation.

[In vivo reactivation of reduced T cell activity following polytransfusion caused by immune aggregates in immunoglobulin preparations].

Surgery leads to an activation of peripheral blood lymphocytes, which is inhibited by polytransfusion. This effect could be eliminated by application of immunoglobulins. We think that immune aggregates in immunoglobulin preparations can stimulate T-lymphocytes.