Genetic predisposition for development of complications in multiple trauma patients

The care of multiple trauma patients has been improved through advances made in preclinical treatment, surgical procedures, and intensive care medicine. However, posttraumatic complications such as systemic inflammatory response syndrome, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, and sepsis remain a major problem following multiple trauma. Components of the innate immune system and other inflammatory mediators (e.g., procalcitonin) play a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of posttraumatic complications. Studies investigating the genetic predisposition for complications after multiple trauma have provided evidence for a genetic heterogeneity in the posttraumatic immune response. The differences in response to multiple trauma associated with single-nucleotide polymorphisms may contribute to the development of new genetically tailored diagnostic and therapeutic interventions improving outcome in this patient population. In addition, detrimental adverse effects of adjuvant therapy could be avoided in other patients who, by genotype, are predicted not to benefit.