Inhibition of neutrophil chemotaxis by plasma of burned patients: effect of blood transfusion practice.

Incubation of normal human neutrophils with plasma from burned patients markedly reduced the ability of the cells to respond to a chemotactic stimulus in vitro. Previous transfusion of the patients with packed red blood cells did not alter the inhibited locomotion of neutrophils, whereas transfusion with normal plasma alone attenuated or even abolished the inhibitory activity. The finding provides direct evidence for the involvement of circulating suppressive factors in neutrophil chemotaxis, rendering burned patients more susceptible to infections. In addition, it stresses the relevance of plasma transfusion in clinical management and infection control following thermal injury.