title: Serum calcitonin may be a marker for inhalation injury in burns.
abstract: One of the principal causes of death from burns is inhalation injury. The pulmonary neuroendocrine cell contains and secretes immunoreactive calcitonin (iCT), and, under the influence of various irritative stimuli, can be induced to secrete iCT in excess. A prospective study of serum iCT levels in 41 patients with burns was undertaken. Mean serum iCT levels were four times normal values at the time of admission and reached 31 times normal values by 24 hours after injury. These levels did not correlate specifically with burn size. However, serum iCT had a very strong positive correlation with mortality, and in addition, was highest in patients who died early after injury compared with those who died late after injury. Patients who were clinically suspected to have pulmonary injury and who died had markedly higher levels of iCT than those who survived. In addition, serum iCT correlated positively with the need for mechanical ventilation and the amount of pulmonary shunting. Although other factors may also play a role in hypercalcitoninemia, serum iCT may be an important marker for the presence of inhalation injury, as well as a prognostic indicator.
authors: Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington, D.C.
authors: W J
authors: WJ
authors: O'Neill
authors: M H
authors: MH
authors: Jordan
authors: M S
authors: MS
authors: Lewis
authors: R H
authors: RH
authors: Snider
authors: C F
authors: CF
authors: Moore
authors: K L
authors: KL
authors: Becker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D002059:Burns, Inhalation / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood*; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000378:metabolism; D010710:Phosphates / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D010710:Phosphates; D012709:Serum Albumin; D002116:Calcitonin; D003404:Creatinine; D002118:Calcium