Mitochondria-toxic activity in burned human skin: relation to severity of burn and period after burn

Toxic activity in the extracts of burned human skins impairing respiratory control of rat-liver mitochondria was compared in terms of the severity of burn injury and period after burn. The toxic activity was detected in the extracts from skins of third-degree burn, but not in those from skins of deep-dermal burn or of burn ulcers, in the present experimental conditions. In the case of third-degree burn, the toxic activity was not evident during the first few days post burn, but was significantly increased after 10 days. The results of this study suggest the effective period for early therapeutic débridement of the necrotized tissues in the management of severely burned patients.