Thomas Lehnert MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Sebastian Wutzler, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Josef Matthias Kerl MD, Abstract Co-Author: Research Consultant, Siemens AG Speakers Bureau, Siemens AG

Ralf W. Bauer MD, Abstract Co-Author: Research Consultant, Siemens AG Speakers Bureau, Siemens AG

Huedayi Korkusuz MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

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

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

Serum levels of Clara cell protein 16 (CC16) and surfactant protein D as lung-specific biomarkers were obtained on admission from 104 patients with multiple injuries using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. Patients were divided into those with severe lung injury (LI; n=68) and without LI (NLI; n=36). Nonsmoking healthy volunteers (n=20) served as controls. In addition, volume of lung contusions were calculated planimetrically on serial MSCT scans obtained after admission. Factors influencing CC16 serum levels were determined in uni- and multivariate analyses, and Spearman rank coefficients were calculated for correlations.

Patients with LI showed a significant (p < 0.05) elevation of median CC16 levels (10.2 ng/mL) compared with NLI patients (5.4 ng/mL) and controls (5.2 ng/mL). Serum CC16 levels correlated with the volume of lung contusions (r=0.78, p < 0.0001) and were not influenced by overall injury severity, age, gender, or preclinical ventilation. In contrast, circulating surfactant protein D levels were not associated with the presence of LI or the extent of lung contusions.

Our results advocate CC16 as a potential biomarker for lung injury in severely injured patients because of its high correlation with the volume of contused lung parenchyma observed in MSCT. Therefore, this parameter may allow a specified initial treatment of patients with multiple injuries.

CC16 permits a clinical monitoring of contused lung parenchyma without X-ray or CT-imaging.

Lehnert, T, Wutzler, S, Kerl, J, Bauer, R, Korkusuz, H, Vogl, T, Quantification of Lung Tissue Damage in Multiple Trauma Patients: Final Results of the Correlation between CT Findings, Circulating Clara Cell-Protein 16 (CC16), and Surfactant Protein D Plasma Levels.  Radiological Society of North America 2011 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 26 - December 2, 2011 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2011/11007958.html