title: Femoral arteriovenous amino acid differences in septic patients.
abstract: Femoral arteriovenous differences and flux of amino acids across the leg were measured in seven septic patients and compared with those of six nonseptic patients on days 1 and 3 following major surgery. The septic patients were seriously ill and judged clinically to be catabolic. The postoperative patients, although not septic, were expected to have a maximal catabolic response to operation during the first 3 days after operation. Both groups had increased release of phenylalanine from the leg, an index of muscle proteolysis. Septic patients had decreased femoral arteriovenous differences (--20 vs --74 and --60 mumoles/liter) and decreased flux (34 vs 169 and 128 nm/100 gm of calf muscle) of the branched-chain amino acids as compared with the nonseptic postoperative patients on days 1 and 3. The arterial plasmal levels of the branched-chain amino acids and alanine were not different, but phenylalanine was elevated in the septic patients (88 vs 49 and 55 mumoles/liter). The insulin:glucagon molar ratio was lower in the septic patients (2.4 vs 4.4 and 5.5). These findings suggest that in the catabolism of sepsis there is greater oxidation of branched-chain amino acids in muscle than in the catabolism associated with uncomplicated surgery.
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D007866:Leg / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009132:Muscles / Q000378:metabolism*; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain; D009124:Muscle Proteins