Selenium losses in 10 burned patients

Abstract To determine the selenium (Se) losses and balances, 10 patients with burns of 32 ± 9% (mean ± SD) of total body surface and aged 36 ± 9 years were studied from D1 (first post-injury) unitl D7. Cutaneous losses were extracted from the textiles surrounding the patients. Serum and urine were collected until D20. Exudative losses of nitrogen decreased progressively (mean 8.7 ± 3.8 g/24H). Se was detectable in wound seepage only during excision-grafting: mean operative loss was 342 ± 191 μg. Mean urinary Se excretion was 41 ± 13 μg/24H. Operative cutaneous losses led to some negative balances. Serum Se and glutathione peroxydase (GSHPx) were depressed until D20. Serum Se was related to N intake (p The decreased Se and GSHPx levels reflect a deficiency state, which measured losses did not explain, but limitations of the measurement methods prevented detection of Se cutaneous losses ⩽100 μg/24H.