Albumin synthesis in humans increases immediately following the administration of endotoxin

In order to investigate the immediate (i.e. within 3h) response of albumin synthesis to the administration of endotoxin, as a model of a moderate and well controlled catabolic insult, two measurements employing L-[ 2 H 5 ]phenylalanine were performed in 16 volunteers. One group ( n = 8) received an intravenous injection of endotoxin (4ng/kg; lot EC-6) immediately after the first measurement of albumin synthesis, whereas the other group received saline. A second measurement was initiated 1h later. In the endotoxin group, the fractional synthesis rate of albumin was 6.9±0.6%/day (mean±S.D.) in the first measurement. In the second measurement, a significant increase was observed (9.6±1.2%/day; P P -1 ·day -1 before and after endotoxin ( P -1 ·day -1 (not significant compared with the first measurement and P