Thomas Lehnert MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Sebastian Wutzler, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Katrin Eichler MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Martin Georg Mack MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Ingo Marzi, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Thomas Josef Vogl MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To analyze the correlation of initial circulating Clara Cell-Protein 16 (CC16) levels with the volume of contused lung parenchyma observed in multi-slice CT (MSCT) and to evaluate if CC16 plasma levels, produced by Clara Cells located in the respiratory system, can be used to indicate and quantify lung injury in multiple trauma patients.

CC16 serum levels upon admission from 76 patients with multiple trauma (ISS≥16) were analysed by ELISA. Patients were divided into those without lung tissue injury (NLI, n=23) and those with a verified lung contusion in the initial CT scan (LI, AISchest≥3, n=53). Values were compared to those of ten healthy non-smoking volunteers. One-way ANOVA with post-hoc pairwise testing (Tukey) was used for statistical analysis (p value <0.05 was considered significant).

Patients with CT confirmed lung tissue injury showed significantly higher CC16 levels than multiple trauma patients without lung tissue injury and healthy controls (Contr. 5.5 ± 1.4 ng/ml [SD], NLI 6.9 ± 3.2 ng/ml, LI 11.5 ± 8.1 ng/ml; p overall = 0.0085, Contr. vs. LI p=0.02, Contr. vs. NLI p=0.20; NLI vs. LI p<0.01).

Elevated CC16 levels indicate lung tissue damage in multiple trauma patients and highly correlate with the volume of contused lung parenchyma observed in MSCT.

Our results advocate CC16 as a potential biomarker for lung injury in severely injured patients. CC16 permits a clinical monitoring of contused lung parenchyma without X-ray or CT-imaging.

Lehnert, T, Wutzler, S, Eichler, K, Mack, M, Marzi, I, Vogl, T, Quantification of Lung Tissue Damage in Multiple Trauma Patients: Final Results of the Correlation between CT Findings and Circulating Clara Cell-Protein 16 (CC16) Plasma Levels.  Radiological Society of North America 2010 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 28 - December 3, 2010 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2010/9008028.html