Significance of the changes of serum tumor necrosis facror activity in patients with severe burns / 第三军医大学学报

ABSTRACT

The dynamica changes of the activity of serum tumor necrosis factor(TNF)was determined in 24 patients with severe burns,and the changes of cardiac and hepatic enzymes,plasma lactate and glucose,serum protein,WBC count etc were determined as well.It was found that TNF was produced in large amounts to damage and degenerate the vascular endothe-lium.Consequently intravascular emboli were more liable to occur to result in tissue hypoxia.TNF could also induce the release of polymorphonuclear neutrophils(PMNs)from the bone marrow.PMNs by chemotacsis accumulated in the inflammatory tissues to produce large amounts of toxic products,which could damage the cells and tissues directly to result in multiple organ failure.Furthermore,TNF,through the mediation of pyrogen and cachectin,could induce febrile reaction,exhaustion of glycogen reserve,and increment of muscular protein catabolism.Eventually the energy consumption of the host would be incresed and his defensive function weakened.