Association of postburn fatty acids and triglycerides with clinical outcome in severely burned children.

Abstract

Free fatty acids (FFAs) and triglycerides (TGs) are altered postburn, but whether these alterations are associated with postburn outcomes is not clear. The aim of the present study was to analyze lipid metabolic profiles in pediatric burn patients and to correlate these profiles with patient outcomes and hospital courses. We conducted a prospective cohort study at an academic pediatric hospital burn center. Our study included 219 pediatric burn patients. Patients were stratified according to their plasma TG and FFA levels. Main patient outcomes, such as postburn morbidity and mortality, and clinical metabolic markers were analyzed. All groups were similar in demographics and injury characteristics. Patients with elevated TGs had significantly worse clinical outcomes associated with increased acute-phase protein synthesis indicating augmented inflammation and hypermetabolism, whereas increased FFAs did not seem to profoundly alter postburn outcomes. Elevated TGs, but not FFAs, postburn are associated with worsened organ function and clinical outcomes.