title: Tissue protein synthesis rates in critically ill patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this study were to simultaneously determine the in vivo rates of protein synthesis in skeletal muscle, peripheral blood lymphocytes, and serum albumin in critically ill patients; to establish whether a relationship between the responses of these tissues could be observed; and to demonstrate if a protein synthesis pattern characteristic of critical illness exists.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Intensive care unit of a 1000-bed university hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen patients treated in the intensive care unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Rates of tissue protein synthesis were determined in vivo once during the course of critical illness, using the flooding method with L-(2H5)phenylalanine. Protein synthesis in muscle was 1.49 +/- 0.16%/day; in circulating lymphocytes (i.e., mononuclear cells), protein synthesis was 11.10 +/- 1.82%/day. Albumin synthesis was 12.81 +/- 1.23%/day when expressed as the fractional rate, and was 184 +/- 19 mg/kg/day when expressed as the absolute rate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The individual tissues responded differently to trauma, and showed a wide range of values. The responses were not significantly correlated with each other and no pattern of tissue protein synthesis characteristic of critical illness was observed. However, both muscle protein and albumin synthesis rates correlated with metabolic status and clinical indices of the severity of illness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Huddinge University Hospital, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Essén
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: McNurlan
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gamrin
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hunter
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Calder
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Garlick
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wernerman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D016638:Critical Illness; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism*; D010649:Phenylalanine; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D012709:Serum Albumin; D010649:Phenylalanine; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D003404:Creatinine