[Clinical study on the postburn change in the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal hormones in severely burned patients].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the postburn dynamic changes in the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal hormones in severely burned patients.


METHODS
Fifty burn patients were enrolled in the study. The plasma contents of total GC (cortisol), ACTH and aldosterone (ALDO) and urinary contents of 17-OHO and 17-KS were determined with radio-immunological assay (RIA) method after burn injury to compare with the normal values which were well established clinically.


RESULTS
The postburn plasma and urinary contents of the above indices were increased evidently with two peak values in shock and infectious stages, whilst the majority of he indices were lower than the normal values after 6 postburn weeks (PBWs). The values of these hormones were the lowest in dying patients. On the other hand, the values approached normal levels in those patients whose burn wounds were healing.


CONCLUSIONS
Increases of the plasma and urinary levels of hypothalamus-pituitary -adrenal hormones in severely burned patients were constantly seen. Burn shock and infection seemed to be the two major factors in inducing postburn stress reaction in burn victims. Abrupt decrease of the hormone levels in plasma and or urine indicated adrenal failure predicting a poor prognosis of the burn patients.
Li
Hong-mian
HM
The Center of Burn, Plastic Surgery and Rehabilitation, The first Affiliated Hospital of Guang Xi Medical University, Nanning 530021, PR China.
Liang
Zi-qian
ZQ
Luo
Zuo-jie
ZJ
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D002056:Burns / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007028:Hypothalamic Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010907:Pituitary Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*; D012774:Shock, Traumatic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D007028:Hypothalamic Hormones; D010907:Pituitary Hormones