MUSCLE METABOLISM OF BRANCHED CHAIN AMINO ACIDS IN TRAUMA-SEPSIS.

Metabolic alterations following trauma are an important aspect of patient care. A hypercatabolic state is typical of most illnesses with a 100% increase over basal values common for burns or traumatic injury. Muscle protein catabolism in this state provides the liver with amino acids for acute phase protein synthesis and gluconeogenic substrates for caloric needs of other organs. By measuring amino acid and branched chain keto acid concentration differences across the leg in a group of five closely matched trauma ICU patients, authors are able to estimate muscle utilization of branched chain substrates. Amino acids were analyzed by an automated HPLC ion exchange method.