L[diaeresis]oalbumin and fibrinogen synthesis increase while muscle protein synthesis decreases in head injured patients. Mansoor, Odile, Marc Cayol, Pierre Gachon, Yves Boirie, Pierre Schoeffler, Christiane Obled, Bernard Beaufrre. Bernard BEAUFRERE, Laboratoire de Nutrition Humaine, BP 321, 63009 Clermont-Ferrand Cedex 1 - France, T[theta]l. (33)04.73.60.82.50, Fax (33)04.73.60.82.55, e-mail : beaufrer@inra.clermont.fr
APStracts 4:0158E, 1997.
The effect of trauma on protein metabolism was investigated in the whole body, muscle and liver in severely head injured patients presenting an acute inflammatory response by comparison to fed control subjects receiving a similar diet. Non oxidative leucine disposal (an index of whole body protein synthesis), muscle, albumin and fibrinogen synthesis were determined by means of a primed, continuous infusion of L [1-13C] leucine. Non oxidative leucine disposal increased by 28 in the patients (P < 0.02). Fractional muscle protein synthesis rate decreased by 50 % (P < 0.01) after injury. Fractional and absolute fribrinogen synthesis rate were multiplied by 2 and 9 respectively after injury (P < 0.001). Albumin levels were lower in patients (25.2 ( 1.2 g/l, mean ( SE) than in controls (33.7 ( 1.2 g/l, P < 0.001). However, fractional albumin synthesis rates were increased by 60 % in patients (11.4 ( 1.0 %/d) compared to controls (7.3 ( 0.4 %/d, P < 0.01). Therefore, 1) head trauma induces opposite and large changes of protein synthesis in muscle and acute phase hepatic proteins, probably mediated by cytokines, glucocorticoids and other stress hormones ; 2) in these patients, hypoalbuminemia is not due to a depressed albumin synthesis. 

Received 10 April 1997; accepted in final form 8 July 1997
APS Manuscript Number E162-7.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Endocrinol. Metab.).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1997 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 24 July 1997