Quantitative in vivo Protein Synthesis as a Measure of Immune Function

Outcome in severe illness depends not only on adequate, goal-directed treatment, but also on the patient’s response to the treatment. In particular, the state of the immune system is crucial in cases of severe infection. Immune suppression, regardless of the underlying mechanism, is a factor adding to a poor prognosis in patients with severe infections. Existing scoring systems, designed to reflect organ failure and to give prognosis prediction for the patient, do not include any score for the status of the immune system. The reason for that is the absence of such a measure similar to those existing for respiration, circulation, coagulation, as well as for liver, kidney and mental function.