Protective effects of urinary trypsin inhibitor in experimental shock

The effects of human urinary trypsin inhibitor (UTI) were studied in experimental shock models. Administration of 50,000 U/kg, i.v., of UTI protected against mortality from shock induced by burn, endotoxin or trauma. Aprotinin at a dose of 50,000 U/kg improved only endotoxin shock and showed a moderate but not significant effect on burn and traumatic shock. Administration of 50,000 U/kg, i.v., of UTI protected against the aggravation in systemic hemodynamics in canine hemorrhagic shock. Furthermore, in rat traumatic shock, 50,000 U/kg, i.v., administration of UTI significantly reversed the increased serum beta-glucuronidase and trypsin activities and the decreased hepatic ATP level, and it moderately suppressed the increased serum uric acid level. Aprotinin failed to affect all these biochemical changes induced by drum trauma. These results suggest that the protective effect of UTI against experimental shock is possibly exerted through lowering the elevated enzyme activities in the serum during shock.