Natriuretic peptide type B in burn intensive care

Advances in heart failure monitoring: Biosensors targeting molecular markers in peripheral bio-fluids

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), especially chronic heart failure, threaten many patients' lives worldwide. Because of its slow course and complex causes, its clinical screening, diagnosis, and prognosis are essential challenges. Clinical biomarkers and biosensor technologies can rapidly screen and diagnose. Multiple types of biomarkers are employed for screening purposes, precise diagnosis, and treatment follow-up. This article provides an up-to-date overview of the biomarkers associated with the six main heart failure etiology pathways. Plasma natriuretic peptides (BNP and NT-proBNP) and cardiac troponins (cTnT, cTnl) are still analyzed as gold-standard markers for heart failure. Other complementary biomarkers include growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15), circulating Galactose Lectin 3 (Gal-3), soluble interleukin (sST2), C-reactive protein (CRP), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). For these biomarkers, the electrochemical biosensors have exhibited sufficient sensitivity, detection limit, and specificity. This review systematically summarizes the latest molecular biomarkers and sensors for heart failure, which will provide comprehensive and cutting-edge authoritative scientific information for biomedical and electronic-sensing researchers in the field of heart failure, as well as patients. In addition, our proposed future outlook may provide new research ideas for researchers.

Electroanalytical point-of-care detection of gold standard and emerging cardiac biomarkers for stratification and monitoring in intensive care medicine - a review

Determination of specific cardiac biomarkers (CBs) during the diagnosis and management of adverse cardiovascular events such as acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has become commonplace in emergency department (ED), cardiology and many other ward settings. Cardiac troponins (cTnT and cTnI) and natriuretic peptides (BNP and NT-pro-BNP) are the preferred biomarkers in clinical practice for the diagnostic workup of AMI, acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and other types of myocardial ischaemia and heart failure (HF), while the roles and possible clinical applications of several other potential biomarkers continue to be evaluated and are the subject of several comprehensive reviews. The requirement for rapid, repeated testing of a small number of CBs in ED and cardiology patients has led to the development of point-of-care (PoC) technology to circumvent the need for remote and lengthy testing procedures in the hospital pathology laboratories. Electroanalytical sensing platforms have the potential to meet these requirements. This review aims firstly to reflect on the potential benefits of rapid CB testing in critically ill patients, a very distinct cohort of patients with deranged baseline levels of CBs. We summarise their source and clinical relevance and are the first to report the required analytical ranges for such technology to be of value in this patient cohort. Secondly, we review the current electrochemical approaches, including its sub-variants such as photoelectrochemical and electrochemiluminescence, for the determination  of important CBs highlighting the various strategies used, namely the use of micro- and nanomaterials, to maximise the sensitivities and selectivities of such approaches. Finally, we consider the challenges that must be overcome to allow for the commercialisation of this technology and transition into intensive care medicine.

Cardiac Dysfunction in Severely Burned Patients: Current Understanding of Etiology, Pathophysiology, and Treatment

Patients who experience severe burn injuries face a massive inflammatory response resulting in hemodynamic and cardiovascular complications. Even after immediate and appropriate resuscitation, removal of burn eschar and covering of open areas, burn patients remain at high risk for serious morbidity and mortality. As a result of the massive fluid shifts following the initial injury, along with large volume fluid resuscitation, the cardiovascular system is critically affected. Further, increased inflammation, catecholamine surge, and hypermetabolic syndrome impact cardiac dysfunction, which worsens outcomes of burn patients. This review aimed to summarize the current knowledge about the effect of burns on the cardiovascular system.A comprehensive search of the PubMed and Embase databases and manual review of articles involving effects of burns on the cardiovascular system was conducted.Many burn units use multimodal monitors (e.g., transpulmonary thermodilution) to assess hemodynamics and optimize cardiovascular function. Echocardiography is often used for additional evaluations of hemodynamically unstable patients to assess systolic and diastolic function. Due to its noninvasive character, echocardiography can be repeated easily, which allows us to follow patients longitudinally.The use of anabolic and anticatabolic agents has been shown to be beneficial for short- and long-term outcomes of burn survivors. Administration of propranolol (non-selective β-receptor antagonist) or oxandrolone (synthetic testosterone) for up to 12 months post-burn counteracts hypermetabolism during hospital stay and improves cardiac function.A comprehensive understanding of how burns lead to cardiac dysfunction and new therapeutic options could contribute to better outcomes in this patient population.

N-Terminal Brain Natriuretic Peptide First Week After Burn Injury

B-type natriuretic peptide has shown promising results as a biomarker for acute kidney injury in general intensive care patients. It may also indirectly reflect fluid balance of the circulation. Among burn patients, it has been observed to indicate excessive fluid resuscitation and organ dysfunction, although its clinical use to indicate acute kidney injury or guide fluid resuscitation has not been validated. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide values are related to the amount of fluids given after severe burn injury and whether it can act as a novel biomarker for acute kidney injury in these patients. Nineteen consecutive burn patients were included. Plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide was measured daily during 1 week from admission. Other variables such as laboratory values and intravenous infusions were also recorded. The association between acute kidney injury and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide values was analyzed with a multivariable panel regression model, adjusted for burned total body surface area, age, body mass index, and laboratory values. N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide values varied between single patients, and even more between the patients who developed acute kidney injury. Older age, lower body mass index, and cumulative infusions were independently associated with higher N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide values, whereas acute kidney injury was not. N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide values correlated with cumulative infusions given during the first week. The authors could not validate the role of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide as a biomarker for acute kidney injury in burns.

Recruitment of extravascular fluid by hyperoncotic albumin

BACKGROUND

Although hyperoncotic albumin may be used to recruit oedema, its effectiveness remains unclear. Therefore, this issue was studied during infusion experiments in healthy volunteers.

METHOD

Fifteen healthy volunteers (mean age 31 years) received an infusion of 3 mL/kg of 20% albumin over 30 minutes. Their urinary excretion was recorded, and venous blood samples were taken to measure blood haemoglobin (Hb), haematocrit, colloid osmotic pressure as well as plasma albumin and sodium concentrations on 15 occasions over a period of 300 minutes. Plasma volume expansion was taken as the inverse of the fluid-induced dilution of venous plasma, as given by the blood Hb concentration. Mass balance calculations were used to estimate the mobilisation of fluid from the tissues.

RESULTS

Maximum plasma volume expansion was reached 20 minutes after completing an infusion of 20% albumin. Urinary excretion was effectively increased, and the mobilised fluid from the tissues at 300 minutes amounted to 3.4 ± 1.2 mL for each infused mL of 20% albumin, of which 19% was of intracellular origin. The urinary excretion correlated strongly with the amount of recruited fluid (R²  = 0.87) and inversely with the plasma volume expansion (R²  = 0.53).

CONCLUSION

The infusion of 20% albumin significantly increases the plasma volume by recruiting interstitial fluid. After completing the infusion, there is a delay of 20 minutes until maximum plasma dilution is reached, and the duration of the plasma volume expansion lasts far beyond 5 hours.

Effect and mechanism of hydrocortisone on organ function in patients with severe burns

INTRODUCTION

In patients with severe burns, resuscitation with large volumes of fluid is needed, partly because of an increase in capillary leakage. Corticosteroids might be beneficial by diminishing capillary leakage. This study aimed to assess in severely burned nonseptic patients whether hydrocortisone (HC) improved outcome and diminished capillary leakage.

METHODS

Retrospective analyses of a prospectively collected database were performed, including 39 patients (age 52 [35-62] years, 72% male). Patients were divided based on HC therapy. First, in patients in whom HC was started late, that is when deteriorating (late; 5-12 days postburn) data before and after start of HC were compared. Second, patients in whom HC was started day 0 or 1 postburn (upfront; within 48 hours) were compared with patients who did not receive HC (control). Outcome was assessed as organ dysfunction by Denver Multiple Organ Failure (MOF) score and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score. As markers for capillary leakage and hydration state, proteinuria, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), and fluid administration were assessed. Follow-up was 20 days postburn. Possible adverse effects including mortality were recorded. Repeated measurement regression analyses were performed using MLwiN.

RESULTS

In the late group, Denver MOF and SOFA scores significantly decreased after HC (P<.001). Proteinuria tended to decrease (P=.13), BNP increased on the days HC was used (P<.001), and amounts of fluids diminished (P<.001). In the upfront vs control group, Denver MOF and SOFA scores (P<.001) decreased more quickly. Proteinuria (P=.006) and administered fluids decreased more rapidly (P<.001). Mortality rate, numbers of positive blood cultures, incidence of pneumonia, and graft loss were similar in all groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Hydrocortisone treatment in severe burned patients without sepsis might improve organ dysfunction possibly because of a reduction in capillary leakage, as reflected by a decrease of proteinuria, an increase of BNP, and diminished fluid resuscitation volumes.

The year in burns 2013

Approximately 3415 research articles were published with burns in the title, abstract, and/or keyword in 2013. We have continued to see an increase in this number; the following reviews articles selected from these by the Editor of one of the major journals (Burns) and colleagues that in their opinion are most likely to have effects on burn care treatment and understanding. As we have done before, articles were found and divided into the following topic areas: epidemiology of injury and burn prevention, wound and scar characterization, acute care and critical care, inhalation injury, infection, psychological considerations, pain and itching management, rehabilitation and long-term outcomes, and burn reconstruction. The articles are mentioned briefly with notes from the authors; readers are referred to the full papers for details.