[Clinical study of the pathogeneses of multiple organ failure after burns].

51 burned patients with TBSA over 30% were studied prospectively. MOF developed in 17 of them. Postburn MOF occurred mainly in those with TBSA over 70%. Mortality of MOF was directly proportional to the number of organs involved. The incidence of pulmonary failure was the highest, and the highest mortality was attributed to renal failure. MOF occurring in the early stage was more related to burn shock, and those occurring in the late stage was predisposed mainly by infection. Oxygen free radicals play an important role in the genesis and development of postburn MOF. In this study, it was revealed that antiperoxidation ability declined, active oxygen was increased, and lipid peroxidation became excessive after the burn injury. It was also found that oxygen free radical-mediated effects produced more serious damages in patients with MOF than those without, and also more in those died than the survivors. The hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase system was a significant source of oxygen radicals after the burn injury. There were also significant changes in plasma TXA2 and PGI2 levels postburn. The marked increase in TXA2/PGI2 ratio indicated imbalance between TXA2 and PGI2, which was correlated well with burn size and closely related to the development of postburn MOF. The excessive production of TXA2 might trigger or accelerate the formation of microaggregates and thromboxane, subsequently leading to visceral damages and failure.