The aim of the study was to assess the zinc content and identify the relationship between the concentration of this element and changes in the biochemical status of patients and markers of inflammation during burn shock. We examined 23 patients aged 45.3±16.1 years with burns of I-II-III degree, area of 31-80%. The serum concentrations of zinc, albumin, interleukin-6, C-reactive protein (CRP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were determined. The majority of patients (21/23) had severe hypocincemia, correlated with burn area (r=-0.53; p=0.008). A decrease in zinc levels during burn shock was associated with the development of hypoalbuminemia (r=0.52, p=0.01). The association of deviations in ALT and AST activity with changes in zinc concentration was revealed (-0.59<γ<-0.61, 0.008<p<0.009), which may indicate the role of hepatic dysfunction in the development of hypocinkemia. The development of a systemic inflammatory response was revealed. The correlation analysis revealed an association between the zinc and interleukin-6 levels (r=-0.63, p=0.03), as well as zinc and CRP (r=-0.41, p=0.04). From the first days after the injury, zinc deficiency is observed in severely burned patients, which is affected by an inflammatory reaction and hypoalbuminemia. Due to the fact that zinc is one of the key factors in maintaining homeostasis in the body, it is necessary to further study the molecular mechanisms of regulating the level of this trace element in burned patients and to develop ways to correct hypocinkemia that contribute to the effective treatment of burn disease.
Keywords: burn disease; hypoalbuminemia; inflammation; shock; zinc.