Plasma nuclear DNA and mitochondrial DNA as prognostic markers in corrosive injury patients.
OBJECTIVE
Ingestion of a corrosive substance produces an injury to the gastrointestinal tract and it is often difficult to evaluate the severity and prognosis of this injury. Increased concentrations of plasma nuclear DNA and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) have been found to be associated with the area of corrosion. This study examined the level of plasma DNA as it relates to the severity of corrosive injury.


METHODS
Forty-eight consecutive patients were enrolled prospectively. The concentrations of plasma nuclear DNA and mtDNA were measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay at presentation to the emergency room and 12 h later.


RESULTS
The median age of the patients enrolled was 55 years (20 men and 28 women) with an overall mortality rate of 21%. Nineteen patients underwent operative intervention secondary to perforation. Findings included significantly elevated plasma nuclear DNA and mtDNA in the mortality group at presentation and 12 h after injury compared to the survival group.


CONCLUSIONS
The concentrations of plasma nuclear DNA and mtDNA were elevated within 4 h after corrosive injury. The elevated concentrations of plasma nuclear DNA and mtDNA could be useful prognostic markers to correlate with the clinical outcome in corrosive patients.
Chou
Chu-Chung
CC
Department of Emergency Medicine, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan.
Fang
Hsin-Yuan
HY
Chen
Yao-Li
YL
Wu
Chin-Yen
CY
Siao
Fu-Yuan
FY
Chou
Ming-Jen
MJ