ABSTRACT
Zinc in plasma and urine and serum albumin and alpha 2-macroglobulin were measured in 48 patients with burns. Mean total burned surface area amounted to 18%, ranging from 2 to 55%, and mean hospitalization time amounted to 35 days, ranging from 10 to 124 days. All parameters showed a decrease during the first two post-burn days. Minimal values were reached on days 2 and 3 for plasma and urine zinc, and between days 5 and 10 for the proteins. Thereafter, values increased, rapidly for both plasma and urinary zinc, more slowly for albumin and alpha 2-macroglobulin. The ratio R of the total plasma zinc minus the alpha 2-macroglobulin concentration to the albumin concentration is postulated as an indicator for zinc deficiency. From values of R and of the urinary zinc excretion, conclusions can be drawn about various processes of the zinc metabolism that may occur during the acute stage following the thermal accident and during the stages of tissue demarcation and of recovery. These processes are discussed in terms of possible temporary and/or local zinc deficiency. Evidence is presented that zinc administration in only indicated during the final stages of recovery in case of inadequate dietary intake.
Subject(s)
Burns/metabolism , Serum Albumin/analysis , Zinc/metabolism , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Random Allocation , Zinc/blood , Zinc/urine , alpha-Macroglobulins/analysisABSTRACT
The results of a longitudinal study on plasma and urine zinc concentrations in a patient with 68 per cent burns are described. Special attention was paid to possible zinc contamination due to the use of bladder catheters for urine sampling. The course of the plasma and urine zinc concentrations during the first 50 days in hospital was comparable to those reported in the literature. It was shown that surgery was associated with a pronounced rise in urine zinc level, while catheter replacement caused no significant increase in urinary zinc content in this particular patient. However, measurements of zinc content of and zinc release from three types of bladder catheters showed that the two types of latex-based catheters contained about 0.25 per cent zinc, versus 0.01 per cent in the siliconelastomer equivalent. During an 8 h perfusion latex catheters released about 1.2 mumols zinc (2.5 mumols/l). Possible errors in urine zinc determinations due to zinc contamination from catheters are calculated. Recommendations are made for minimizing these errors.
