Alterations of Na+-K+-ATPase, Ca2+-ATPase, and Mg2+-ATPase activities in erythrocyte, muscle, and liver of traumatic and septic patients.

Na+-K+-ATPase, Ca2+-ATPase and Mg2+-ATPase activities of erythrocyte membrane, microsomal fractions of rectus muscle, and liver were measured colorimetrically in the biopsy specimens of 14 control, 7 uncomplicated trauma (group 2), and 14 severe trauma or septic patients (groups 3-A and 3-B). In erythrocytes, these three ATPase activities in group 2 were not significantly changed but sepsis of both the acute (group 3-A) and ongoing type (group 3-B) decreased all of the ATPase activities. In muscle, there was a significant loss of three ATPase activities in the acute insult of severe trauma or sepsis (group 3-A), while Na+-K+-ATPase and Mg2+-ATPase activities were not significantly changed in ongoing, severe trauma (group 3-B). In the liver, a tendency for all three ATPase activities to decrease is noted in the severe traumatic group. However, a statistical difference between the control and severe traumatic group showed only for Na+-K+ ATPase and Mg2+-ATPase in group 3-A and Ca2+-ATPase in group 3-B. Correlation coefficients between erythrocyte, muscle, and liver for three ATPase activities are between 0.4 and 0.5. The mechanism which alters ATPase activity remains unknown in this study, but it may account for the variation in traumatic insult, in hemodynamic and hormone changes, and in tissue energy stores.