[Changes in plasma free amino acid concentration in burned patients with sepsis].

The sequential changes in plasma free amino acid concentration were analyzed and compared in burned patients with sepsis (n = 12) and without sepsis (n = 19). After burn injury, phenylalanine, methionine, lysine, and the Phe/Tyr ratio were significantly increased in two groups (P < 0.05-0.01). Threonine, serine, histidine, arginine, proline and BCAA/AAA ratio were significantly decreased in two groups (P < 0.05-0.001). The Phel Tyr ratio in patients with sepsis was much higher than that in patients without sepsis on postburn days 14 and 21 (P < 0.05), while the BCAA/AAA ratio in patients with sepsis was much lower than that in patients without sepsis on postburn day 14 (P < 0.01). The level of proline in patients with sepsis was much higher than that in patients without sepsis on postburn days 3 and 7 (P < 0.05). It is suggested that these results, in collaboration with other clinical and laboratory findings, may be helpful in foretelling the probable development of sepsis in patients with major burns.