High-dose vitamin C therapy for extensive deep dermal burns

We studied the haemodynamic effects of antioxidant therapy with high-dose vitamin C administration (170 mg/kg/24 h) in guinea-pigs with 70 per cent body surface area deep dermal burns. The animals were divided into three groups of six animals each. Group 1 was resuscitated with Ringer's lactate solution according to the Parkland formula; group 2 with 25 per cent of the Parkland formula with vitamin C; and group 3 with 25 per cent of the Parkland formula without vitamin C. There were no significant differences in heart rates or in blood pressures between the groups throughout the 24-h study period. Group 3 showed significantly higher haematocrit values at 3 h postburn and thereafter as compared with those of group 2. The cardiac output values of group 2 were significantly higher than those of group 3, but equivalent to those of group 1. The water content of the burned skin in group 2 was significantly lower than that in the other groups, indicating that increased postburn capillary permeability was minimized by the administration of vitamin C. With adjuvant high-dose vitamin C administration, we were able to reduce the 24-h resuscitation fluid volume from 4 ml/kg/per cent burn to 1 ml/kg/per cent burn, while maintaining adequate cardiac output.