Depressed interleukin-12-producing activity by monocytes correlates with adverse clinical course and a shift toward Th2-type lymphocyte pattern in severely injured male trauma patients.

Objective: To determine the effect of major trauma on the cytokine-producing activity of monocytes and CD4+ T cells in a homogeneous cohort of patients as well as to determine the relationship between monocyte and T-lymphocyte responses and clinical outcome.

Settings: Surgical intensive care units of a trauma center and flow cytometry and experimental laboratories at a teaching hospital.

Design: Prospective cohort clinical study with measurements of white cell cytokine-producing activity on days 2, 5, and 10 postinjury.