Nuclear matrix protein levels in burn patients with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome

In this study, we investigated multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) and nuclear matrix protein (NMP), which is an indicator for apoptosis, in burn patients. The subjects were 17 patients with a total burn surface area (TBSA) of 26% or more. Eight of them had MODS, and nine did not. Seven patients died, and 10 survived. The NMP value in the group with MODS (610 +/- 318 units/ml) was significantly higher than in the group without MODS (82 +/- 31 units/ml). The NMP values of the patients who died (645 +/- 326 units/ml) were significantly higher than in the group who survived (111 +/- 95 units/ml), and they rose significantly as the number of impaired organs increased. Our findings suggested that the NMP level in burn cases associated with MODS was higher when apoptosis developed and larger numbers of organs were impaired.