Age differences in inflammatory and hypermetabolic postburn responses.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to identify contributors to morbidity and death in severely burned patients <4 years of age.


METHODS
A total of 188 severely burned pediatric patients were divided into 3 age groups (0-3.9 years, 4-9.9 years, and 10-18 years of age). Resting energy expenditure was measured through oxygen consumption, body composition through dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, liver size and cardiac function through ultrasonography, and levels of inflammatory markers, hormones, and acute-phase proteins through laboratory chemistry assays.


RESULTS
Resting energy expenditure was highest in the 10- to 18-year-old group, followed by the 4- to 9.9-year-old group, and was lowest in the 0- to 3.9-year-old group. Children 0 to 3.9 years of age maintained lean body mass and body weight during acute hospitalization, whereas children >4 years of age lost body weight and lean body mass. The inflammatory cytokine profile showed no differences between the 3 age groups, whereas liver size increased significantly in the 10- to 18-year-old group and was lowest in the 0- to 3.9-year-old group. Acute-phase protein and cortisol levels were significantly decreased in the toddler group, compared with the older children. Cardiac data indicated increased cardiac work and impaired function in the toddler group, compared with the other 2 age groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased mortality rates for young children are associated with increased cardiac work and impaired cardiac function but not with the inflammatory and hypermetabolic responses.
Jeschke
Marc G
MG
Galveston Burns Unit, Shriners Hospitals for Children, 815 Market St, Galveston, TX 77550, USA. majeschk@utmb.edu
Norbury
William B
WB
Finnerty
Celeste C
CC
Mlcak
Ronald P
RP
Kulp
Gabriela A
GA
Branski
Ludwik K
LK
Gauglitz
Gerd G
GG
Herndon
Blair
B
Swick
Aron
A
Herndon
David N
DN
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001823:Body Composition; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy; D002153:Calorimetry, Indirect; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006334:Heart Function Tests; D006728:Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000652:urine; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007249:Inflammation / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013997:Time Factors
D016207:Cytokines; D006728:Hormones; D006854:Hydrocortisone