title: Serum cholinesterase activity reflects morbidity in burned patients.
abstract: Blood samples of 200 patients with thermal injuries were drawn apparently to determine the trend of the cholinesterase activity. In relation to the severity of the injury, a characteristic decrease was noted during the first days after admission. A recovery to normal values was achieved in all survivors (150 patients) after a proportionate period of time, but in the group of non-survivors (50 patients), no complete recovery to normal levels was found. Furthermore, a significant relationship between serum cholinesterase activity and the severity of morbidity was detected, the fall of the cholinesterase activity at the very beginning was significantly higher (P<0.004) in patients who died (1.3kU/l) than in patients who survived (0.7kU/l). Already 24h after admission, the mean activity was significantly lower (P<0.003) in non-survivors (2.5kU/l) than in survivors (3.2kU/l). It seems that the serum cholinesterase is a sensitive indicator for the morbidity of patients with severe burn injuries.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical School, University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria. lars.peter.kamolz@univie.ac.at
authors.forename: L-P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Kamolz
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Andel
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Greher
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ploner
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Meissl
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frey
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002056:Burns / Q000201:enzymology / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002802:Cholinesterases / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D002802:Cholinesterases