The Influence of Alcohol Binge on Serum and Lung Markers of the Immuno-Inflammatory Response Following Orthopaedic Trauma

Both acute and chronic alcohol intake have been shown to independently influence the inflammatory response. Chronically, ethanol intake results in immunosuppression, although patients with chronic ethanol-induced liver injury increase their production of both hepatic and systemic inflammatory markers. In contrast, acute alcohol intake has been shown to result in a diminished injury-induced induction of inflammatory markers and the expression of early lung proinflammatory cytokines in rats. However, acute alcohol ingestion has been associated with increased levels of lung inflammation and neutrophil infiltration following burn injury, and is known to impair hemodyanamic and neruoendocrine couterregulation following hemorrhagic shock. Ultimately, the influence of alcohol on the post-injury response is unknown despite the prevalence of ethanol intoxication within the trauma population.