Therapeutic effect of antioxidant on impaired neutrophil function after burns

The present study was carried out with the aim of elucidating the effect of administration of antioxidants vitamin E, Rubiside, and Rubiquinone on neutrophil function in burns. The experimental results showed that the survival rates of the animals were higher in antioxidant Rubiside and Rubiquinone treatment groups, as compared with control group 7 days post-burn. In the control group, Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity of blood was markedly decreased, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in serum were sharply increased, neutrophil chemiluminescence (PMN-CL), neutrophil (PMN) phagocytic rate and phagocytic index were markedly decreased (P less than 0.05) after fluid resuscitation for the observation period of 7 days, as compared with that before resuscitation. It was also found that significant negative correlation existed between MDA levels of serum and PMN phagocytic rate (P less than 0.01) in the control group. On the contrary, after the administration of antioxidant agent vitamin E, Rubiside or Rubiquinone in three different groups, SOD activity was markedly higher, MDA levels were markedly lower, and PMN-CL, PMN phagocytic rate were higher as compared with that of the control group. The experiment suggests that antioxidants could be used as an adjunct in the resuscitation of burn shock, especially in cases when resuscitation is delayed because of various reasons.