Observations on serum and urine alkaline ribonuclease activity and urate after burn injury in man

In an investigation into the disturbances of body function associated with burn injury we have measured the activity of alkaline ribonuclease (EC 3.1.4.22) and the level of urate in the serum and urine of patients sustaining burn injury. Ribonuclease activity was elevated in all patients. The degree of elevation can be related to the percentage of the body surface area burned and to a predictive index of burn mortality. Increased serum ribonuclease activity was accompanied by increased urine ribonuclease output. The relationship between serum urea and ribonuclease activity has been investigated. A significant correlation between these two parameters was observed during the first week post burn. We suggest that this correlation shows as a result of increased protein catabolism and renal dysfunction. After the first week a significant correlation between serum urea and ribonuclease activity was not observed. It is possible that, at this stage, increased ribonuclease activity is perhaps a result of tissue repair. Serum urate was found to be decreased in all patients after burn injury. Serum urate decrease expressed as a percentage of initial value, correlated very strongly with the predictive index of burn mortality. In severely burned patients the decrease in serum urate was accompanied by increased urine urate output and may indicate a change in renal handling of urate after burn injury.