Changes in liver function and size after a severe thermal injury

Long-term persistance of the pathophysiologic response to severe burn injury

Background

Main contributors to adverse outcomes in severely burned pediatric patients are profound and complex metabolic changes in response to the initial injury. It is currently unknown how long these conditions persist beyond the acute phase post-injury. The aim of the present study was to examine the persistence of abnormalities of various clinical parameters commonly utilized to assess the degree hypermetabolic and inflammatory alterations in severely burned children for up to three years post-burn to identify patient specific therapeutic needs and interventions.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Patients: Nine-hundred seventy-seven severely burned pediatric patients with burns over 30% of the total body surface admitted to our institution between 1998 and 2008 were enrolled in this study and compared to a cohort non-burned, non-injured children. Demographics and clinical outcomes, hypermetabolism, body composition, organ function, inflammatory and acute phase responses were determined at admission and subsequent regular intervals for up to 36 months post-burn. Statistical analysis was performed using One-way ANOVA, Student's t-test with Bonferroni correction where appropriate with significance accepted at p<0.05. Resting energy expenditure, body composition, metabolic markers, cardiac and organ function clearly demonstrated that burn caused profound alterations for up to three years post-burn demonstrating marked and prolonged hypermetabolism, p<0.05. Along with increased hypermetabolism, significant elevation of cortisol, catecholamines, cytokines, and acute phase proteins indicate that burn patients are in a hyperinflammatory state for up to three years post-burn p<0.05.

Conclusions

Severe burn injury leads to a much more profound and prolonged hypermetabolic and hyperinflammatory response than previously shown. Given the tremendous adverse events associated with the hypermetabolic and hyperinflamamtory responses, we now identified treatment needs for severely burned patients for a much more prolonged time.

Insulin protects against hepatic damage postburn

Burn injury causes hepatic dysfunction associated with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and induction of the unfolded protein response (UPR). ER stress/UPR leads to hepatic apoptosis and activation of the Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathway, leading to vast metabolic alterations. Insulin has been shown to attenuate hepatic damage and to improve liver function. We therefore hypothesized that insulin administration exerts its effects by attenuating postburn hepatic ER stress and subsequent apoptosis. Male Sprague Dawley rats received a 60% total body surface area (TBSA) burn injury. Animals were randomized to receive saline (controls) or insulin (2.5 IU/kg q. 24 h) and euthanized at 24 and 48 h postburn. Burn injury induced dramatic changes in liver structure and function, including induction of the ER stress response, mitochondrial dysfunction, hepatocyte apoptosis, and up-regulation of inflammatory mediators. Insulin decreased hepatocyte caspase-3 activation and apoptosis significantly at 24 and 48 h postburn. Furthermore, insulin administration decreased ER stress significantly and reversed structural and functional changes in hepatocyte mitochondria. Finally, insulin attenuated the expression of inflammatory mediators IL-6, MCP-1, and CINC-1. Insulin alleviates burn-induced ER stress, hepatocyte apoptosis, mitochondrial abnormalities, and inflammation leading to improved hepatic structure and function significantly. These results support the use of insulin therapy after traumatic injury to improve patient outcomes.

Grading of severity of the condition in burn patients by serum protein and albumin/globulin studies

Capillary permeability increases after inflammation with consequent leak of fluid, electrolytes, and proteins. The albumin molecule size being smaller (69 kDa) than the globulin molecule (90-156 kDa) will leak relatively at an early stage of the disease (with moderate increase in capillary pore size) than globulin leading to albumin/globulin reversal. In cases with severe permeability changes with rapid progression to larger pore size with simultaneous leak of both albumin and globulin, albumin/globulin reversal will not occur. In this study estimation the serum protein and albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio at frequent intervals was done to grade the severity of the condition of burn patients by assessing the severity of capillary leak.A total of 61 admitted patients (from March 2002 to December 2004) based on the protein values were divided into 3 groups (group 1: 6-8 g/dL, group 2: 5.1-5.9 g/dL, group 3: < or =5.0 g/dL), and all the patients who showed change in their protein levels during the study were shifted to appropriate group and were classified as group shifters. The mean survival time and mortality of various groups were compared, and A/G ratio of all the expired cases was analyzed.Group 3 patients showed higher mortality (95%) as compared to that in other groups (group 1 and 2: 0% each and group shifters: 30.2%). Median survival time of group 3 was significantly low as compared to that of group 1 (P < 0.0026), group 2 (P < 0.0006), and group shifters (P < 0.0000). In group shifters the mean time (days) required for shifting from one group to other just before death or discharge in survivors was significantly higher than that in expired cases. Of 26 cases expired during the study, initial A/G ratio at the time of first assigning the group was not reversed in 22 cases (84.6%).The study concluded that the severity (indicated by lower serum protein values) and speed (judged by A/G ratio changes and median survival time analysis) of capillary permeability changes were associated with high mortality, and therefore, it is possible to grade the severity of the condition in burn patients.

Calcium and ER stress mediate hepatic apoptosis after burn injury

A hallmark of the disease state following severe burn injury is decreased liver function, which results in gross metabolic derangements that compromise patient survival. The underlying mechanisms leading to hepatocyte dysfunction after burn are essentially unknown. The aim of the present study was to determine the underlying mechanisms leading to hepatocyte dysfunction and apoptosis after burn. Rats were randomized to either control (no burn) or burn (60% total body surface area burn) and sacrificed at various time-points. Liver was either perfused to isolate primary rat hepatocytes, which were used for in vitro calcium imaging, or liver was harvested and processed for immunohistology, transmission electron microscopy, mitochondrial isolation, mass spectroscopy or Western blotting to determine the hepatic response to burn injury in vivo. We found that thermal injury leads to severely depleted endoplasmic reticulum (ER) calcium stores and consequent elevated cytosolic calcium concentrations in primary hepatocytes in vitro. Burn-induced ER calcium depletion caused depressed hepatocyte responsiveness to signalling molecules that regulate hepatic homeostasis, such as vasopressin and the purinergic agonist ATP. In vivo, thermal injury resulted in activation of the ER stress response and major alterations in mitochondrial structure and function - effects which may be mediated by increased calcium release by inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors. Our results reveal that thermal injury leads to dramatic hepatic disturbances in calcium homeostasis and resultant ER stress leading to mitochondrial abnormalities contributing to hepatic dysfunction and apoptosis after burn injury.

Calcium and ER stress mediate hepatic apoptosis after burn injury

A hallmark of the disease state following severe burn injury is decreased liver function, which results in gross metabolic derangements that compromise patient survival. The underlying mechanisms leading to hepatocyte dysfunction after burn are essentially unknown. The aim of the present study was to determine the underlying mechanisms leading to hepatocyte dysfunction and apoptosis after burn. Rats were randomized to either control (no burn) or burn (60% total body surface area burn) and sacrificed at various time-points. Liver was either perfused to isolate primary rat hepatocytes, which were used for in vitro calcium imaging, or liver was harvested and processed for immunohistology, transmission electron microscopy, mitochondrial isolation, mass spectroscopy or Western blotting to determine the hepatic response to burn injury in vivo. We found that thermal injury leads to severely depleted endoplasmic reticulum (ER) calcium stores and consequent elevated cytosolic calcium concentrations in primary hepatocytes in vitro. Burn-induced ER calcium depletion caused depressed hepatocyte responsiveness to signalling molecules that regulate hepatic homeostasis, such as vasopressin and the purinergic agonist ATP. In vivo, thermal injury resulted in activation of the ER stress response and major alterations in mitochondrial structure and function - effects which may be mediated by increased calcium release by inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors. Our results reveal that thermal injury leads to dramatic hepatic disturbances in calcium homeostasis and resultant ER stress leading to mitochondrial abnormalities contributing to hepatic dysfunction and apoptosis after burn injury.

Extent and magnitude of catecholamine surge in pediatric burned patients

Increased catecholamine (CA) levels after severe burn are associated with stress, inflammation, hypermetabolism, and impaired immune function. The CA secretion profiles in burned patients are not well described. Mechanisms, duration, and extent of CA surge are unknown. The purpose of this large unicenter study was to evaluate the extent and magnitude of CA surge after severe burn in pediatric patients. Patients admitted between 1996 and 2008 were enrolled in this study. Twenty-four-hour urine collections were performed during acute hospitalization and up to 2 years postburn. Results from the samples collected from 12 normal, healthy volunteers were compared with the data from the burned patients. Relevant demographic and clinical information was obtained from medical records. Student t-test and one-way ANOVA were used to analyze the data where appropriate. Significance was accepted at P < 0.05. Four hundred thirteen patients were enrolled in this study; 17 patients died during acute hospitalization. Burn caused a marked stress and inflammatory response, indicated by massive tachycardia and elevated proinflammatory cytokines. In burned patients, CA levels are consistently and significantly modulated after burn when compared with the levels in normal, healthy volunteers. Catecholamine levels were significantly higher in boys compared with girls, correlated with burn size in burns greater than 40%, and were increased in older children. There were differences over time in survivors versus nonsurvivors, with CA levels significantly higher in nonsurvivors at two time points. Inflammatory cytokines show a similar profile during the study period. Our study gives clinicians a useful insight into the extent and magnitude of CA elevation to better design treatment strategies.

Intensive insulin therapy in severely burned pediatric patients: a prospective randomized trial

RATIONALE

Hyperglycemia and insulin resistance have been shown to increase morbidity and mortality in severely burned patients, and glycemic control appears essential to improve clinical outcomes. However, to date no prospective randomized study exists that determines whether intensive insulin therapy is associated with improved post-burn morbidity and mortality.

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether intensive insulin therapy is associated with improved post-burn morbidity.

METHODS

A total of 239 severely burned pediatric patients with burns over greater than 30% of their total body surface area were randomized (block randomization 1:3) to intensive insulin treatment (n = 60) or control (n = 179).

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Demographics, clinical outcomes, sepsis, glucose metabolism, organ function, and inflammatory, acute-phase, and hypermetabolic responses were determined. Demographics were similar in both groups. Intensive insulin treatment significantly decreased the incidence of infections and sepsis compared with controls (P < 0.05). Furthermore, intensive insulin therapy improved organ function as indicated by improved serum markers, DENVER2 scores, and ultrasound (P < 0.05). Intensive insulin therapy alleviated post-burn insulin resistance and the vast catabolic response of the body (P < 0.05). Intensive insulin treatment dampened inflammatory and acute-phase responses by deceasing IL-6 and acute-phase proteins compared with controls (P < 0.05). Mortality was 4% in the intensive insulin therapy group and 11% in the control group (P = 0.14).

CONCLUSIONS

In this prospective randomized clinical trial, we showed that intensive insulin therapy improves post-burn morbidity. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT00673309).

The role of hyperglycemia in burned patients: evidence-based studies

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.

Severe burn-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress and hepatic damage in mice

Severe burn injury results in liver dysfunction and damage, with subsequent metabolic derangements contributing to patient morbidity and mortality. On a cellular level, significant postburn hepatocyte apoptosis occurs and likely contributes to liver dysfunction. However, the underlying mechanisms of hepatocyte apoptosis are poorly understood. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response/unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway can lead to hepatocyte apoptosis under conditions of liver dysfunction. Thus, we hypothesized that ER stress/UPR may mediate hepatic dysfunction in response to burn injury. We investigated the temporal activation of hepatic ER stress in mice after a severe burn injury. Mice received a scald burn over 35% of their body surface and were killed at 1, 7, 14, and 21 d postburn. We found that severe burn induces hepatocyte apoptosis as indicated by increased caspase-3 activity (P < 0.05). Serum albumin levels decreased postburn and remained lowered for up to 21 d, indicating that constitutive secretory protein synthesis was reduced. Significantly, upregulation of the ER stress markers glucose-related protein 78 (GRP78)/BIP, protein disulfide isomerase (PDI), p-protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (p-PERK), and inositol-requiring enzyme 1alpha (IRE-1alpha) were found beginning 1 d postburn (P < 0.05) and persisted up to 21 d postburn (P < 0.05). Hepatic ER stress induced by burn injury was associated with compensatory upregulation of the calcium chaperone/storage proteins calnexin and calreticulin (P < 0.05), suggesting that ER calcium store depletion was the primary trigger for induction of the ER stress response. In summary, thermal injury in mice causes long-term adaptive and deleterious hepatic function alterations characterized by significant upregulation of the ER stress response.

Hepatocellular damage following burn injury demonstrated by a more sensitive marker: alpha-glutathione S-transferase

Following burn injury, some complex reactions are initiated that are mainly managed by the liver and that can cause injury at the liver. Alpha glutathione S-transferase (alpha-GST) is a sensitive marker that is very sensitive in the monitoring of hepatocellular damage. We tried, in this study, to demonstrate liver injury in burn patients using alpha-GST. Forty-four patients with burn injury treated at the Burn Treatment and Care unit of the Atatürk University Medical School between July 2006 and July 2007 were included in the study. Patient data were collected. Three blood samples were taken from the patients (at admittance [first sample], 120 hours after admittance [second sample], and on the fourteenth day [third sample]) for the analysis of alpha-GST, alanine amino transferase, aspartate amino transferase activities, and albumin and c-reactive protein levels. There was a statistically significant difference between alpha-GST activities of the study group at admission (P<.001), on the fifth day (P<.001), and the 14th day (P<.001) and those of the control group. There was a decrease in alpha-GST activities during the hospitalization period. Alanine amino transferase and aspartate amino transferase activities in all three samples of the study group were not different from each other and from the values obtained from the control group. The albumin levels of the study group were significantly different from those of the control group. The c-reactive protein levels of the study group were different from those of the control group at admission, on the fifth day, and fourteenth day (P<.001, P<.001, and P<.01). Our findings suggest that burn injury causes liver injury, and alpha-GST can be used to demonstrate this.

The hepatic response to thermal injury: is the liver important for postburn outcomes?

Thermal injury produces a profound hypermetabolic and hypercatabolic stress response characterized by increased endogenous glucose production via gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis, lipolysis, and proteolysis. The liver is the central body organ involved in these metabolic responses. It is suggested that the liver, with its metabolic, inflammatory, immune, and acute phase functions, plays a pivotal role in patient survival and recovery by modulating multiple pathways following thermal injury. Studies have evaluated the role and function of the liver during the postburn response and showed that liver integrity and function are essential for survival, and that hepatic acute phase proteins are strong predictors for postburn survival. This review discusses these studies and delineates the pivotal role of the liver in patients following severe thermal injury.

Anesthetic considerations for major burn injury in pediatric patients

Major burn injury remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in pediatric patients. With advances in burn care and with the development of experienced multi-disciplinary teams at regionalized burn centers, many children are surviving severe burn injury. As members of the multi-disciplinary care team, anesthesia providers are called upon to care for these critically ill children. These children provide several anesthetic challenges, such as difficult airways, difficult vascular access, fluid and electrolyte imbalances, altered temperature regulation, sepsis, cardiovascular instability, and increased requirements of muscle relaxants and opioids. The anesthesia provider must understand the physiologic derangements that occur with severe burn injury as well as the subsequent anesthetic implications.

Pathophysiologic response to severe burn injury

OBJECTIVE

To improve clinical outcome and to determine new treatment options, we studied the pathophysiologic response postburn in a large prospective, single center, clinical trial.

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA

A severe burn injury leads to marked hypermetabolism and catabolism, which are associated with morbidity and mortality. The underlying pathophysiology and the correlations between humoral changes and organ function have not been well delineated.

METHODS

Two hundred forty-two severely burned pediatric patients [>30% total body surface area (TBSA)], who received no anabolic drugs, were enrolled in this study. Demographics, clinical data, serum hormones, serum cytokine expression profile, organ function, hypermetabolism, muscle protein synthesis, incidence of wound infection sepsis, and body composition were obtained throughout acute hospital course.

RESULTS

Average age was 8 +/- 0.2 years, and average burn size was 56 +/- 1% TBSA with 43 +/- 1% third-degree TBSA. All patients were markedly hypermetabolic throughout acute hospital stay and had significant muscle protein loss as demonstrated by a negative muscle protein net balance (-0.05% +/- 0.007 nmol/100 mL leg/min) and loss of lean body mass (LBM) (-4.1% +/- 1.9%); P < 0.05. Patients lost 3% +/- 1% of their bone mineral content (BMC) and 2 +/- 1% of their bone mineral density (BMD). Serum proteome analysis demonstrated profound alterations immediately postburn, which remained abnormal throughout acute hospital stay; P < 0.05. Cardiac function was compromised immediately after burn and remained abnormal up to discharge; P < 0.05. Insulin resistance appeared during the first week postburn and persisted until discharge. Patients were hyperinflammatory with marked changes in IL-8, MCP-1, and IL-6, which were associated with 2.5 +/- 0.2 infections and 17% sepsis.

CONCLUSIONS

In this large prospective clinical trial, we delineated the complexity of the postburn pathophysiologic response and conclude that the postburn response is profound, occurring in a timely manner, with derangements that are greater and more protracted than previously thought.

Insulin decreases inflammatory signal transcription factor expression in primary human liver cells after LPS challenge

Hepatic homeostasis is essential for survival in critically ill and burned patients. Insulin administration improves survival and decreases infections in these patients. To determine the molecular mechanisms, the aim of the present study was to establish a stress model using primary human hepatocytes (PHHs) and to study the effects of insulin on the hepatic inflammatory signaling cascade. Liver tissue was obtained from general surgical patients, and PHHs were isolated and maintained in culture. Primary hepatocyte cultures were challenged with various doses of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and the inflammatory signal transcription cascade was determined by real-time PCR. In subsequent experiments, primary hepatocyte cultures were challenged with LPS and insulin was added in various doses. Glucose was determined by colorimetric assays. PHHs treated with 100 microg/mL LPS showed a profound inflammatory reaction with increased expression of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, IL-1beta, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT-5). Insulin at 10 IU/mL significantly decreased IL-6, TNF, and IL-1beta at pretranslational levels, an effect associated with decreased STAT-5 mRNA expression (P < 0.05). Glucose concentration and cellular metabolic activity were not different between controls and insulin-treated cells. Based on our results, we suggest that primary hepatocyte cultures can be used to study the effect of LPS on the inflammatory cascade. Insulin decreases hepatic cytokine expression, which is associated with decreased STAT-5 expression.