Plasma glutamine depletion and patient outcome in acute ICU admissions

Abstract

Low PG at acute ICU admission is related to higher age, shock as primary diagnosis, and higher hospital mortality. Low PG represents a risk of poor outcome, not fully reflected in the presently used mortality prediction systems.

New perspective for nutritional support of cancer patients: Enteral/parenteral nutrition

“…Glutamine is a non-essential amino acid with a special role in metabolism and nutrition. A number of key functions of glutamine in metabolism are shown in Table II (46). Being a precursor for nucleotide synthesis, glutamine availability is a key factor in cell growth.…”

Glutaminemia prognostic significance in critical surgical patients – An analysis of plasma aminogram profile; Significado pronóstico de la glutaminemia en pacientes quirúrgicos críticos - Análisis del perfil del aminograma plasmático

“…Severe glutamine depletion in critically ill patients, with plasma levels under 420 µmol/l, has been considered as a pejorative prognostic factor (2,3) and has demonstrated a variable prevalence, described between 25 and 67% (1,12,30,31). In addition, high baseline plasma concentrations of glutamine have been also associated with increased mortality rate.…”

“…Glutamine depletion, reflected by a plasma glutamine concentration below 420 µmol/l, has been considered to be an independent predictive factor of mortality in critically ill patients (2,3).…”

Protective effect of glutamine in critical patients with acute liver injury

“…Laboratory and clinical data of trials have shown a relationship between Gln-mediated protection and enhanced expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70). [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] However, the mechanism of this benefit has not yet been elucidated. Thus the relationship between early parenteral Gln administration and serum HSP-70 expression is not clear in critical patients with acute liver injury (ALI).…”