The significance of changes in serum tumour necrosis factor (TNF) activity in severely burned patients.
In order to explore the pathogenesis of postburn internal organ injury (OI) and multiple organ failure (MOF), serum TNF activity was measured by biological assay in 24 severely burned patients. Parameters related to internal organ functions were simultaneously measured. The results showed an obvious increase in serum TNF activity accompanied by increased serum myocardial and hepatic enzymes, plasma lactate and aggregations of WBC in internal organ tissues. Serum protein levels decreased substantially. These changes were more marked in patients suffering from both OI and MOF. It is suggested that large amounts of TNF are produced postburn and might have an important role in the development of OI and MOF.
Liu
X S
XS
Institute of Burn Research, Southwestern Hospital, Third Military Medical College, Chongqing, Sichuan, PR China.
Luo
Z H
ZH
Yang
Z C
ZC
Huang
W H
WH
Li
A N
AN
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D002056:Burns / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007773:Lactates / Q000097:blood; D019344:Lactic Acid; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000209:etiology; D009206:Myocardium / Q000201:enzymology; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D001798:Blood Proteins; D007773:Lactates; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D019344:Lactic Acid