A remarkable point for evaluating the severity of burns: Thiol-disulfide profile.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine the thiol-disulfide profile tests in patients suffering from burn injuries. This case-control study comprised 48 patients with thermal burn injuries and 61 healthy individuals. Thiol-disulfide tests were conducted in both groups, and also, the changes of thiol-disulfide parameters were analyzed at zero time and on days 3, 7, 15, and 30 of the admission in patients with burn injuries. The patients had significantly decreased native and total thiol levels and native thiol/total thiol ratios, and significantly increased disulfide/native thiol and disulfide/total thiol ratios compared to control individuals (p<0.001 for all). The variations of native thiol levels, total thiol levels, and disulfide/native thiol ratios were significantly different over time in patients with burn injuries (p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.05, respectively). There were strong associations with the clinical parameters and thiol-disulfide profile tests (p<0.05 for all). There was a metabolic disturbance of the thiol-disulfide system among patients with burn injuries. The courses of thiol-disulfide variables in time overlapped with the burn mechanism. Strong associations provide that thiol-disulfide homeostasis might be a notable key for evaluating the severity of burns and predicting the survival.