Serum enzymes in thermal injury.

Various metabolic and biological changes follow burn injury. Serum Thio-barbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), transaminases, alkaline phosphatase and amylase were measured in 43 patients with thermal injury over the first 10 days of post burn period. No clear correlation between elevated serum enzymes except amylase and the burn size was observed on admission. Mean serum TBARS were significantly increased in the burn patients. Transaminases values increased till 5(th) day then declined on 10(th) day, whereas alkaline phosphatase and amylase activities continued to rise till day 10. It is concluded that functional disturbances occur in liver and pancreas around a week after thermal injury. Monitoring serum ALP and amylase in postburn period has valuable prognostic importance.