CD4+ T-lymphocyte alterations in trauma patients

colleagues reporting an association between persistent lymphopaenia and increasin g mortality in trauma patients [1]. We would like to provide some additional data obtained in a similar cohort of patients. In parallel with a study recently published in Critical Care in which mHLA-DR expression was assessed [2], we evaluated the CD4 + lymphocyte count and the percentage of CD4 + CD25 + regulatory T cells in trauma patients. Sixty-fi ve patients were included (mean ± standard deviation): age 41 ± 18 years, Simplifi ed Acute Physiology Score II 45 ± 16, and Injury Severity Score 38 ± 10. Of these patients, 21 developed sepsis (mainly pneumonia – median delay 4 days) and two died of septic shock. Importantly, 3 days after trauma the patients presented with signifi cant CD4 + lymphocyte alterations: a signifi cantly decreased CD4 + T-cell count and an increased regulatory T-cell percen tage (versus control values, P <0.0001; Table 1). Interestingly, we ob served a trend toward lower CD4 + T-cell values in patients presenting with secondary infections versus non-infected individuals (343 cells/μl vs. 454 cells/μl, respectively). Our results reinforce the observations made by Heff ernan and colleagues [1]. We confi rm here that trauma patients exhibit CD4 + T-cell loss with a relative increase in regulatory T-cell values – both parameters associated with unfavourable outcomes after septic shock [3]. Collectively, these data suggest that, in addition to monocyte anergy [2], lymphocyte alterations should be taken into account in the monitoring of trauma patients. Lymphocyte subset counts and phen otyping deserve to be investigated in large cohorts of trauma patients to minutely delineate association with specifi c clinical outcomes. Competing interests The authors declare that they have no competing interests. Failure to normalize lymphopenia following trauma is associated with increased mortality, independent of the leukocytosis pattern. G: Lack of recovery in monocyte human leukocyte antigen-DR expression is independently associated with the development of sepsis after major trauma. Increased circulating regulatory T cells (CD4 + CD25 + CD127 –) contribute to lymphocyte anergy in septic shock patients. D: Monitoring temporary immunodepression by fl ow cytometric measurement of monocytic HLA-DR expression: a multicenter standardized study.