Intestinal fatty acid binding protein as a marker of damage intestinal barrier in children with burn injury

Abstract

Introduction. Intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP) can serve as one of biomarkers of the damage to the intestinal mucosa in burned children occupying a special place among the complications and causes of their death. Materials and methods. There were examined 24 children with burns from 20% to 80% of the body surface. Blood serum I-FABP and lactate levels were determined during both the acute period of burn disease and septicotoxemia. Results. In the acute period wide variations in I-FABP values (from 22.67 to 385.18 pg/ml) were demonstrated. During the septicotoxemia I-FABP level increased by an average of 1.4 times, reflecting intestinal cell damage. Children with a burn area >40% had a higher I-FABP level during all follow-up periods compared to children with a burn ≤ 40%. In the acute period there was a positive correlation between the lactate and I-FABP levels. During the septicotoxemia, despite the increase of lactatemia and I-FABP level, this relationship was absent. The maximum increase in I-FABP level was observed in patients with complications of burn disease on the part of the intestine (duodenitis, bulbitis, stress ulcers) and with the development of sepsis. Conclusion. It seems promising to further study this biomarker in order to timely diagnose increased intestinal permeability in children with thermal trauma and develop proper treatment tactics to prevent possible complications, such as intestinal erosive and ulcerative bleeding, the development of bacterial translocation, sepsis and multi-organ failure syndrome.