title: Metabolic response to injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To outline the modern understanding of the aetiology of the metabolic response to injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Review of the relevant literature of the twentieth century.
  
  
  METHODS
  Papers were selected for their relevance to the topic. Preference was for relevant animal and human studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Relevant papers were obtained through MEDLINE search strategies. Papers were read and analysed for accuracy of methodology, statistics, and application to the review in hand. The review also relied heavily on the author's own work.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cytokines are central to the metabolic response to injury and that understanding of their compartmentalisation in critical illness could lead to new therapeutic strategies. The complexity of the system is recognised and suggestions are made for the practising surgeon.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, African Inland Church Kijabe Hospital, Kenya.
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Hill
mesh_terms: D016638:Critical Illness; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000209:etiology; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards; D018746:Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines