• N Wagner, B Relja, J Menke, M Lehnert, and I Marzi.
• Department of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Frankfurt, Germany.
• Shock. 2015 Oct 1;44 Suppl 2:25.

IntroductionThe influence of alcohol consumption on inflammatory state and outcome in patients suffering from traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains controversial. We analyzed effects of positive blood alcohol concentration (BAC) on inflammatory changes, in-hospital complications, and mortality in TBI-patients.MethodsPatients with an Injury Severity Score (ISS)≥16 and Abbreviated Injury Scale of head (AIS-head)≥3 were enrolled upon arrival in the emergency room. Injury severity, vital signs, complications, mortality and systemic interleukin (IL)-6 levels were prospectively taken, blood alcohol concentration was measured. Patients were grouped according to positive BAC (>0.5‰, BAC) vs. <0.5‰ alcohol (no BAC). Matched-pair analysis according to ISS, AIS-head, age and gender was conducted.Results101 TBI-patients were included. 74 patients were grouped to no BAC group, 27 to BAC-group. ISS was significantly higher in the no BAC-group. Positive BAC-group received significantly less packed red blood cells and fresh frozen plasma (p < 0.05). BAC-patients had shorter ICU-stay. In-hospital complications, including single/multiple-organ failure, SIRS, sepsis, pneumonia, ARDS showed no significant changes. BAC- positive patients showed significantly lower systemic IL-6 levels and leukocyte counts (IL-6: 65.0 ± 8.0 vs. 151.8 ± 22.3, leukocytes: 10.2 ± 0.9 vs. 13.2 ± 0.8, both p < 0.05). Matched-pair analysis was performed with 27 pairs. No significant differences in transfusions were observed after matching. However, lowered systemic IL-6 levels and leukocyte counts in the BAC- group were detected after matching also, indicating that this effect is ISS-independent.ConclusionThis study indicates that positive BAC influences systemic IL-6 levels and leukocyte numbers in TBI-patients, and may deliver further insights into the understanding of possible anti- inflammatory effects of alcohol.

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