[Behavior of free amino acids in the severely burned patient (I: In plasma). Clinical study]

Plasma amino acids were measured in 10 severely burned patients during 4 weeks and were compared with plasma amino acids of 12 multiple injured patients measured in the first and second week after the accident. There is only little difference between the amino acid pattern of the two groups. The total amount of plasma amino acids was in the normal range in both groups. In burned patients the high ornithine level was striking, especially in the 1st week (140 mumol/l +/- 46). During all 4 weeks glutamatic acid in burned patients was three to four times of the normal. The levels of asparagic acid were significantly higher in burned patients than in multiple injured patients and reached the highest value in the 2nd week (21,5 mumol/l +/- 8). The branched-chain amino acids decreased to low normal values in the 3rd and 4th week after an elevation in the 2nd week. Citrullin levels (mean 6-12 mumol/l) of both groups were below the normal range, as well as cystin levels (mean 5-36 mumol/l). A possible connection to the increased production of urea is pointed out and the consequence for the nutrition of burned patients is discussed.