Changes in the serum concentrations of thyroxine-binding prealbumin and retinol-binding protein following burn injury.

Concentrations of thyroxine-binding prealbumin (TBPA) and retinol-binding protein (RBP) were measured by one-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis in sequential serum samples obtained from 16 patients suffering from burns of between 2 and 37% of the body surface area. The patients were assigned into two groups suffering from either moderate or mild burns on the basis of an age-related predictive index. In both groups the levels of TBPA and RBP fell with lowest levels occurring at 6 days post-burn. The time taken to return to normal levels was longer in the moderately burned group than in the mildly burned group. There was an association between the lowest levels reached and the severity of the burn as assessed by % burn area. This association was stronger when severity was assessed by the age-related predictive index.