OBJECTIVETo explore the influence of glutamine dipeptide on the plasma endotoxin levels in severely burned patients.

METHODSThirty burned patients with TBSA of 30 - 70% and III degree burn area more than 20% were randomly divided into control (C) and study (S) groups. Glutamine dipeptide powder in dose of 0.5 g/kg/day was given orally in bolus to those patients in S group during 1 - 12 postburn days (PBDs). The plasma levels of glutamine were determined during 1 - 12 PBDs. Simultaneously, the plasma endotoxin level was detected on 1, 3, 6 and 12 PBDs. The wound healing rate at 30 PBD and total hospital stay days were recorded.

RESULTSThe plasma glutamine levels at 1 PBD in C and S groups were obviously lower than normal level (659.5 +/- 35 micromol/L), but there was no difference between these two groups (P > 0.05). The plasma glutamine levels in C group was much lower than that in S group at 12 PBD (P < 0.05). The plasma endotoxin concentration on 1 PBD in these two groups increased evidently compared with the normal value (P < 0.05), and there was no difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). The plasma endotoxin level in S group was much lower than that in C group on 3 PBD (P < 0.05). As for the wound healing rate at 30 PBD, it was markedly higher in S group than that in C group (91% vs 85%). On the other hand, the hospital stay days in S group were evidently lower than that in C group (52 vs 67).

CONCLUSIONOral intake of glutamine dipeptide in burn patients could be beneficial to the maintenance of the plasma concentration of glutamine and in decreasing plasma endotoxin level. It would also enhance the wound healing rate at 30 PBD and shorten the hospital stay days.