[Diaminoxidase of the blood and blister fluid in burned patients]

Serous diaminoxidase (DAO) was measured in 28 patients affected by burns of various extents 3-8 hours after the lesion. In 32.1%, increases in DAO were encountered and these were greater and more frequent in more extensively affected subjects. After 7-10 days, DAO values were back to normal. Measuring DAO simultaneously in the serum and in the phlyctena fluid, it was observed that the latter constantly contains greater concentrations of the enzyme. This suggests that DAO is released or newly formed at lesional level although it cannot be excluded that the internal organs may also play a part in the release and neoformation of DAO as happens in experimental burns, after i.v. injection of heparin and after subcutaneous inflammation due to terpentine.