The Effect of Parenteral Infusion of Amino Acids in Burn Patient

Abstract

Adequate nutritional support may prevent weight loss following severe burn injury. However, persistently low levels of serum albumin, transferring and serum total protein in burn patients have suggested that a protein deficiency may continue to exist which is out of proportion to energy requirements. This interventional study cross sectional study was done in the Department of Biochemistry, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh during January 2008 to December 2008. A total of 40 acute burn injury (within 24 hours of burn) patients of 20-45 years age with 15%-30% burn were selected for this study as case. The study subjects were divided into two groups: Group I represent superficial burn & Group II represents deep burn. The mean age of 28.35±6.81 years and 30.85±7.32 years in group I and group II respectively. The number of male in Group-I was 08 and Group-II was 08 and male female ratio was 2:3. The mean serum total protein before infusion of amino acid in Group-I was 55.31±3.58 g/L and in Group-II was 52.01±2.26 g/L (p<0.001). The mean serum total protein after infusion of amino acid in Group-I was 68.02±2.04 g/L and in Group-II was 61.86±2.49g/L (p<0.001). The mean serum albumin before infusion of amino acid in Group-I was 27.6±2.88 g/L and in Group-II was 25.57±1.89 g/L (p<0.001). The mean serum albumin after infusion of amino acid in Group-I was 22.29±3.50 g/L and in Group-II was 19.83±2.86 g/L (p<0.001). In group-I, serum total protein was increased by 22.98% after infusion and in group-II, that was increased by 18.94% (p<0.01). In group-I, serum albumin was decreased by 19.24% after infusion and in group-II, that was decreased by 22.45% (p<0.05). Serum total protein significantly increased after infusion of amino acid but serum albumin significantly decreased after infusion of amino acid. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/medtoday.v24i1.14107 Medicine TODAY Vol.24(1) 2012 pp.12-15