Interorgan glutamine flow following surgery and infection.

Critical illness initiates some of the most profound alterations in interorgan glutamine metabolism observed in the laboratory as well as in clinical medicine. The interorgan flow becomes markedly altered and net glutamine utilization exceeds production, leading to glutamine depletion in several organs and a possible impairment of protein synthesis. As the patient recovers from the operation or sepsis, it appears that the flow of glutamine between tissues slowly reverts to "normal." During this process, food intake is resumed, the wound heals, activity generally returns to preillness levels, and, in most circumstances, the person is again well.