title: The role of hyperglycemia in burned patients: evidence-based studies.
abstract: Severely burned patients typically experience a systemic response expressed as increased metabolism, inflammation, alteration of cardiac and immune function, and associated hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia has been associated with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. Until recently and for many years, hyperglycemia has been expectantly managed and considered a normal and desired response of an organism to stress. However, findings reported from recent studies now suggest beneficial effects of intensive insulin treatment of critically ill patients. The literature on the management of hyperglycemia in severely burned patients is sparse, with most of the available studies involving only small numbers of burned patients. The purpose of this article is to describe the pathophysiology of hyperglycemia after severe burns and to review the available literature on the outcome of intensive insulin treatment and other anti-hyperglycemic modalities in burned patients in an evidence-based medical approach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Gabriel A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Mecott
authors.forename: Ahmed M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Al-Mousawi
authors.forename: Gerd G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Gauglitz
authors.forename: David N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Herndon
authors.forename: Marc G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Jeschke
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011345:Fenofibrate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008687:Metformin / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D008687:Metformin; D011345:Fenofibrate