Manipulation of the inflammatory response to burn injury.
BACKGROUND
Burn injury is characterized by hypermetabolism and protein catabolism. Endotoxin, derived from either wound or gut, may participate in this response.


METHODS
Eleven seriously burned patients were treated with the endotoxin-binding agent polymyxin B and underwent partitional calorimetry and nitrogen balance studies. The data from theses patients were compared with data from 28 contemporary, similarly burned patients who did not receive polymyxin B.


RESULTS
Elevated levels of circulating endotoxin were not consistently detected in either group. Interleukin-6 was elevated and correlated with rectal temperature and nitrogen excretion in both groups. Administration of polymyxin B produced no change in metabolic rate but produced a significantly more positive nitrogen balance and was associated with a prompt reduction in interleukin-6 levels.


CONCLUSIONS
These data support the hypothesis that endotoxin plays a role in the postburn protein catabolism but not in the hypermetabolic response. This protein catabolic response is statistically associated with circulating interleukin-6 levels, suggesting a possible role for interleukin-6 in postinjury protein wasting.
Cone
J B
JB
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Department of Surgery, Little Rock 72205, USA.
Wallace
B H
BH
Lubansky
H J
HJ
Caldwell
F T
FT
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001481:Basal Metabolism; D002056:Burns / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy; D002153:Calorimetry, Indirect; D002648:Child; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008033:Limulus Test; D008875:Middle Aged; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000652:urine; D011112:Polymyxin B / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004731:Endotoxins; D015850:Interleukin-6; D011506:Proteins; D011112:Polymyxin B; D009584:Nitrogen