title: Evaluation of haemoglobin in blister fluid as an indicator of paediatric burn wound depth.
abstract: The early and accurate assessment of burns is essential to inform patient treatment regimens; however, this first critical step in clinical practice remains a challenge for specialist burns clinicians worldwide. In this regard, protein biomarkers are a potential adjunct diagnostic tool to assist experienced clinical judgement. Free circulating haemoglobin has previously shown some promise as an indicator of burn depth in a murine animal model. Using blister fluid collected from paediatric burn patients, haemoglobin abundance was measured using semi-quantitative Western blot and immunoassays. Although a trend was observed in which haemoglobin abundance increased with burn wound severity, several patient samples deviated significantly from this trend. Further, it was found that haemoglobin concentration decreased significantly when whole cells, cell debris and fibrinous matrix was removed from the blister fluid by centrifugation; although the relationship to depth was still present. Statistical analyses showed that haemoglobin abundance in the fluid was more strongly related to the time between injury and sample collection and the time taken for spontaneous re-epithelialisation. We hypothesise that prolonged exposure to the blister fluid microenvironment may result in an increased haemoglobin abundance due to erythrocyte lysis, and delayed wound healing.
authors: Tissue Repair and Regeneration Program, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; School of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Centre for Children's Burns and Trauma Research, Queensland Children's Medical Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Herston, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Wound Management Innovation Co-operative Research Centre, Kelvin Grove, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. Electronic address: catherine.tanzer@griffithuni.edu.au.
authors: Catherine
authors: C
authors: Tanzer
authors: Tissue Repair and Regeneration Program, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; School of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Wound Management Innovation Co-operative Research Centre, Kelvin Grove, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. Electronic address: dayle.sampson@qut.edu.au.
authors: Dayle L
authors: DL
authors: Sampson
authors: Tissue Repair and Regeneration Program, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; School of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Wound Management Innovation Co-operative Research Centre, Kelvin Grove, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. Electronic address: j2.broadbent@qut.edu.au.
authors: James A
authors: JA
authors: Broadbent
authors: Tissue Repair and Regeneration Program, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; School of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Centre for Children's Burns and Trauma Research, Queensland Children's Medical Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Herston, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. Electronic address: leila.cuttle@qut.edu.au.
authors: Leila
authors: L
authors: Cuttle
authors: Centre for Children's Burns and Trauma Research, Queensland Children's Medical Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Herston, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. Electronic address: kempfm@mailbox.uq.edu.au.
authors: Margit
authors: M
authors: Kempf
authors: Centre for Children's Burns and Trauma Research, Queensland Children's Medical Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Herston, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. Electronic address: royk@uq.edu.au.
authors: Roy M
authors: RM
authors: Kimble
authors: Tissue Repair and Regeneration Program, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; School of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. Electronic address: z.upton@qut.edu.au.
authors: Zee
authors: Z
authors: Upton
authors: Tissue Repair and Regeneration Program, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; School of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. Electronic address: a.parker@qut.edu.au.
authors: Tony J
authors: TJ
authors: Parker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001768:Blister; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002056:Burns / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005122:Exudates and Transudates / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D062326:Re-Epithelialization; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006454:Hemoglobins
keywords: Biomarkers; Haemoglobin; Paediatric burns; Wound depth