[Value of the determination of urinary 3-methylhistidine (3 MEHIS) in the evaluation of postoperative muscular catabolism].

Daily estimations of urinary 3 methylhistidine, creatinine and total nitrogen were carried out during the first four post-operative days in sixteen patients who had undergone uncomplicated abdominal surgery and receiving parenteral alimentation. Figures obtained for 3 methylhistidine (19.36 +/- 4.48 mumol/kg as a cumulative for the 4 days) could be used to assess the catabolism of muscular protein during this period at approximately 320 g for a 70 kg subject, i.e. approximately twice that found in the healthy adult. There was a good correlation between 3 MEHIS and creatinine. Muscular catabolism is hence proportional to the degree of lean body mass. By contrast, there was no correlation between the excretion of 3 MEHIS and nitrogen excretion. Finally, study of the effect of qualitative and quantitative variations in nitrogen intake on muscular proteolysis did not make possible any conclusion at present. Further studies are hence necessary.