Abstract: Objective To explore the expression of COX-2 and p38MAPK in patients with trauma MODS. Methods Forty MODS patients were evaluated. The levels of peripheral blood mononuclear cells COX-2 and p38MAPK in MODS patients and 40 normal controls was detected by enzyme linked immunosor-bent assay (ELISA). RT-PCR was used to measure the COX-2 mRNA and p38MAPK mRNA expression of in PBMCs. ANOV and correlation analysis were used in statistical analysis. Results The levels of COX-2 and p38MAPK of PBMCs and the mRNA expression in MODS group were higher than in control group (all P <0.05). The levels of COX-2 and p38MAPK of PBMCs and the mRNA expression in dead group were higher than in survival group( all P <0.05). The levels of COX-2 and p38MAPK of PBMCs were positively correlated, (r =0.6 147, P<0.01). The expression of COX-2 mRNA, p38MAPK mRNA of PBMCs and APACHE I scoring were positively correlated (r1 =0.5 009, P1 <0.05,r2 =0. 5 316, P2 <0. 05). Conclusions COX-2 and p38MAPK of PBMCs take part in the onset of MODS, and may service as index to judge the prognosis of MODS.