The characteristics and correlation between the ischemia-reperfusion and changes of redox status in the early stage of severe burns

Objective Both the ischemia-reperfusion injury and the abnormal changes of redox status are the important pathologic changes in the burn shock stage for severe burns. The study of clinical dynamic, quantitative relevance about them was performed. Methods In this study, blood redox potential (ORP) values (ΔORP value was adopted, as the quantitative index to reflect the overall redox status), plasma uric acid levels (important antioxidant, as antioxidant index), and the burn shock state–related indicators (lactic acid and hematocrit) of 48 burn patients were dynamically, quantitatively monitored during the early stage after injury. Results The results revealed that the duration of abnormal fluctuation of redox status in the early stage of severe burns was longer than that of the traditional clinical shock stage (2-3 days). The changes of overreduction soon after injury were closely related to the hypovolemia-related hypoxia, and the following overoxidation status was consistent with the pathophysiological changes related to the reperfusion, and the degrees of variation were closely related to the severity of burn injury and prognosis. Moreover, early surgery (3 days after injury) had no significant influence on the changing trend of abnormal redox status in the early stage of severe burns. Conclusion The ischemia-reperfusion injury caused by burn shock appears the main factor contributing to the abnormal biphasic changes of redox status in the early stage of severe burns. Our findings provide useful information for the redox regulation treatment for burn shock.