Fig. 3

Cytokine concentrations demonstrate early activation of lymphocytes following critical injury. Cytokines were quantified in plasma drawn at < 2 h following injury in trauma patients (n = 87) with critical injury severity (ISS ≥ 25) and control patients (n = 39). Patients who developed MODS (n = 27) had higher concentrations of IFN-γ, IL-1β and IL-8 when compared to critically injured patients who did not develop MODS (n = 60). IFN-γ: 0.6 (0.4–0.9), 1.0 (0.6–1.8), 4.1 (1.8–9.0), p = 0.01. TNF-α: 3.3 (2.9–3.7), 5.2 (4.5–6.1), 5.7 (4.6–7.0), p = 0.54. IL-1β: 0.1 (0.0–0.1), 0.2 (0.1–0.4), 0.7 (0.3–1.9), p = 0.04. IL-6: 6.1 (4.2–8.8), 91.0 (60.8–136.2), 176.6 (106.1–294.1), p = 0.06. IL-8: 3.8 (3.2–4.5), 12 (9.1–15.9), 21.5 (14.8–31.2), p = 0.02. IL-10: 3.6 (2.5–5.3), 41.4 (28.0–61.2), 66.2 (40.4–108.5), p = 0.17. IL-12 p70: 0.6 (0.3–1.1), 2.2 (1.2–3.9), 2.5 (0.9–6.8), p = 0.78. Data are presented as C, no MODS, MODS, p value in pg/mL as geometric mean (95 % CI). ^*Denotes p < 0.05 using Student’s t test comparing no MODS and MODS. IFN-γ interferon gamma, IL interleukin, MODS multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, TNF-α tumour necrosis factor alpha