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Catabolic hormones and substrate patterns in septic patients

1977; Elsevier BV; Volume: 23; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/0022-4804(77)90018-x

1095-8673

J.B. Marchuk, Richard J. Finley, Alan C. Groves, Laura Wolfe, R. L. Holliday, J H Duff,

Clinical Nutrition and Gastroenterology

Hormone and substrate levels were measured in 22 septic and 12 nonseptic post-operative subjects. Plasma glucagon and total plasma catecholamines were increased in the septic subjects suggesting a possible role of these hormones in the severe catabolism of sepsis. There was no difference in the insulin: glucagon (I:G) molar ratios in the two groups, although both groups have a lower ratio than patients who are anabolic while receiving parenteral nutrition. Lack of correlation between I:G ratio and severity of illness in this study would indicate that factors other than insulin and glucagon are operational in the catabolism of sepsis. Catecholamines may have a significant catabolic effect in septic patients. Increased levels of phenylalanine and low serum albumin point to the possibility of impaired liver function in serious septic illness.