Effects of Alterations of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Metabolism upon Plasma Volume Loss Induced by Thermal Trauma

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Abstract
Since drugs which reduce sympathetically induced lipolysis also reduce plasma volume loss following thermal trauma, products of the metabolism of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) may be substances causing plasma volume loss. The 2 major metabolic pathways for PUFA are cyclo-oxygenase transformation to form prostaglandins and lipoxygenase transformation to form fatty acid hydroperoxides. This latter pathway produces the superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide. To test the effects of alterations of these pathways of PUFA metabolism upon plasma volume loss, the effects of indomethacin (a cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor), orgotein (a superoxide dismutase) and catalase (an enzyme which converts hydrogen peroxide to inactive substances) were studied in anesthetized dogs receiving a 15% total body surface area 3rd-degree flame burn. The results showed that indomethacin did not alter postburn plasma volume loss, orgotein reduced early plasma volume loss, but did not reduce continuing loss and catalase reduced early and continuing plasma volume loss.