Amino acid metabolism during the anabolic phase of severely burned patients: with special reference to sulphur amino acids

Abstract. Owing to the high content of cyst(e)ine and sulphated mucopolysaccharides in skin tissues, an increased demand for sulphur amino acids could be expected during the anabolic phase in severely burned patients. As a marker for sulphur amino acid deficiency, leucocyte glutathione, methionine and taurine concentrations and urinary excretion of sulphur amino acids and inorganic sulphate were followed in five severely burned patients during a 5-month period (1–6 months post injury). Reduced leucocyte concentrations of glutathione, methionine and taurine, and decreased urinary excretion of inorganic sulphate, methionine, cyst(e)ine and taurine were observed, and were most pronounced 2 or 3 months after injury. Simultaneously a minor decrease in urinary output and leucocyte concentration of branched-chain amino acids and serine were also found, whereas normal levels of glycine, threonine, and glutamine were registered. The episode of limited availability of sulphur amino acids coincides with the period of most intensive collagen and keratin resynthesis of burned skin tissue.