The endocrine response after burns

Abstract

To identify the dynamic response of hormones after burns with special reference to ANP during shock and the subsequent period, plasma concentrations of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), aldosterone, cortisol, arginine vasopressin (AVP), corticotropin, (ACTH), plasma renin activities (PRA), norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (E) were measured from the day of ICU admission and for 7 days following burn injury. Plasma AVP levels were highest on ICU admission and correlated with size of the burn injury ranged from 20-60 percent of the total body surface area. Between the 5th and 6th postburn day plasma ANP levels elevated while plasma AVP levels returned to normal. Urine sodium concentrations decreased from the 3rd day. Plasma aldosterone levels declined after the 2nd day. Mean epinephrine (E) and norepinephrine (NE) levels elevated on admission and remained elevated throughout the study. These results suggest that ANP plays important role for restoring fluid homeostasis by improving edema in burned tissues during refilling periods in burns.