The aim of this study was to test the efficiency of an anti ICAM-1 fab fragment compared to an IgG full antibody in the treatment of burn injury in rabbits. Former studies in animal as well as in human trials confirmed the positive effect of a murine IgG antibody against the enlargement and the conversion of the zone of stasis into a full burn site. A negative side effect of a murine antibody treatment is a possible allergic reaction and complement activation. Using a fab fragment this side effect might be reduced. In this animal trial we compared for the first time the efficiency of a full IgG antibody to the efficiency of a fab fragment. Therefore a standardized well known rabbit animal model was used. A burn injury of defined depth and enlargement was performed on the animals backs. Dermal blood flow in the region of interest was measured using intraveneously applicated indocyanine green and quantifying the intensity of fluorescence. Afterwards a statistic analysis was performed. At the end of the trial, punch biopsies were taken and a histological and again a statistic examination followed. We compared therapy groups with the control group and therapy groups within each other. The results show, that the use of a fab fragment is as effective as the application of an IgG full antibody in enhancing bloodflow in the zone of stasis with an applicationtime up to 3 hours post burn. Even the histological results confirm this hypothesis. Therefore the treatment of burn injuries with a fab fragment is a good alternative to therapy strategies with a full antibody
