BACKGROUND

Extensive burn injury leads to production of free radicals subsequent to massive fluid resuscitation, which in turn increases the risk of acute lung injury. Edaravone (3-methyl-1-phenyl-2-pyrazolin-5-one), a novel free radical scavenger, is clinically effective in improving the prognosis after cerebral infarction. However, the effect of edaravone against extensive burn injury has not been tested. Objected To evaluate whether edaravone can reduce free radical precursors in a 30% burn model in rats.

DESIGN

Prospective, randomized controlled experiment.

SETTING

Animal basic science laboratory.

SUBJECTS

Male Wistar rats weighing 200 to 220 g.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

All rats (n = 10) were given a 30% full-thickness burn according to the Walker and Mason method. Immediately after the burn, edaravone was injected into the rats (n = 5) intraperitoneally at a dose of 9 mg/kg. One hour after burn injury, blood and tissue samples were collected to analyze free radical changes of serum and tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) and xanthine oxidase (XOD) and lung white blood cells.

RESULTS

Statistical significance was found between nontreatment and edaravone treatment relative to serum MDA (mean +/- SD, 2.50 +/- 0.54 vs 1.74 +/- 0.29 nmol/mL), serum XOD (mean +/- SD, 5.04 +/- 1.67 vs 2.26 +/- 0.83 U/L), tissue MDA (mean +/- SD, 1268.7 +/- 289.9 vs 569.1 +/- 135.9 nmol/mg protein), tissue XOD (mean +/- SD, 256.3 +/- 58.1 vs 50.96 +/- 19.60 mU/g tissue), lung white blood cells (mean +/- SD, 3088 +/- 1144 vs 1542 +/- 575 mU/g tissue), and lung XOD (mean +/- SD, 428.3 +/- 210.5 vs 81.8 +/- 36.0 nmol/mg protein).

CONCLUSIONS

Edaravone treatment induces significant reduction of free radical precursors and their metabolites compared with controls in burn rats. This suggests that edaravone could be helpful in the clinical treatment of large burns.