DEMONSTRATION AND PARTIAL CHARACTERIZATION OF CARDIOTOXIC AND NEUROTOXIC SUBSTANCES IN SERUM OF BURNT PATIENTS

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 25  (4) , 225-232
Abstract
Cardio-circulatory and neurological complications may appear between the 2nd and 7th day of treatment of severely burned (> 30% of body surface, 3rd degree) patients, even if their lesions follow an apparently favorable course. Substances which would be responsible for the toxic effects were isolated from the sera of such patients. The sera of several patients were fractionated by Cohn''s method no. 6 and the fractions were tested in vivo in rabbits, rats and mice for their toxic effects. In some of the fractions (II + III, IV and VI) there was toxic activity on the CNS, cardiocirculatory and respiratory systems. An acute toxic activity was also present as well as a substance increasing the permeability of the blood-brain barrier. All these factors together may be involved in the production of the clinical symptoms. Their appearance may depend on the concentration of toxic substances in the blood and on the resistance of the patients.