Pulmonary glutamine production: effects of sepsis and pulmonary infiltrates

K.W.E. Hulsewé*, R.R.W.J. van der Hulst, G. Ramsay, C.L. van Berlo, N.E.P. Deutz, P.B. Soeters

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Pulmonary glutamine production: effects of sepsis and pulmonary infiltrates.

Hulsewe KW, van der Hulst RR, Ramsay G, van Berlo CL, Deutz NE, Soeters PB.

Department of Surgery, Academic Hospital Maastricht, P.O. Box 5800, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands. [email protected]

OBJECTIVE: To define the role of the lung in the production of glutamine in the critically ill and to determine the effects of the presence of pulmonary infiltrates and the presence and severity of sepsis. DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective clinical study in a single center; interdisciplinary intensive care unit at a university hospital. PATIENTS: Eleven critically ill patients were compared to ten patients prior to cardiac bypass surgery. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Fluxes of glutamine and other amino acids were measured. Chest radiography was performed, and APACHE II and multiple-organ failure scores were calculated. Septic patients showed significantly higher glutamine efflux from the lungs than controls. At least one-half of this glutamine is estimated to result from protein breakdown. Severity of illness had no impact on glutamine fluxes. In the presence of pulmonary infiltrates on chest radiographs glutamine efflux did not differ from zero. CONCLUSIONS: The lungs produce significant amounts of glutamine in septic patients. Pulmonary infiltrates decrease the glutamine efflux from the lung in septic patients. We suggest that this is caused by uptake of glutamine by white cells in the lung exerting immunological functions
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1833-1836
Number of pages4
JournalIntensive Care Medicine
Volume29
Issue number10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2003

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Pulmonary glutamine production: effects of sepsis and pulmonary infiltrates'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this