title: The effect of elective surgery on 3-methylhistidine excretion.
abstract: Elective surgical operation in normally nourished patients is associated with an increase of up to 40 per cent in the urinary excretion of 3-methylhistidine during the first three postoperative days. This increase was statistically significant (P less than 0.01) on the second and third postoperative days. This probably represents a minor degree of increased muscle proteolysis, principally due to the operative trauma. The possible effect of postoperative starvation requires further elucidation.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006639:Histidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008762:Methylhistidines / Q000652:urine*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D008762:Methylhistidines; D006639:Histidine