Nutrition
Volume 21, Issue 9 , Pages 901-907, September 2005

Oxidative stress and acute-phase response in patients with pressure sores

  • Maria Bernarda Cavalcanti Cordeiro, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Internal Medicine, School Medicine of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Brazil
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel./fax: +0055-34-3318-5840.
  • ,
  • Élida Juliana Antonelli, R.N.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Internal Medicine, School Medicine of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Brazil
  • ,
  • Daniel Ferreira da Cunha, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Internal Medicine, School Medicine of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Brazil
  • ,
  • Alceu Afonso Jordão Júnior, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Nutrition Division of the Department of Internal Medicine, School Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
  • ,
  • Virmondes Rodrigues Júnior, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Internal Medicine, School Medicine of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Brazil
  • ,
  • Helio Vannucchi, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Nutrition Division of the Department of Internal Medicine, School Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil

Received 30 October 2004; accepted 5 January 2005. published online 18 July 2005.

Abstract 

Objective

We investigated the relation between oxidative stress and the occurrence of the acute-phase response with serum ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol levels in patients with pressure sores.

Methods

The following groups of patients were studied: 1) those who had patients with pressure sores, 2) those who had pneumonia, and 3) those who did not develop pressure sores or any type of infection (control). Concentrations of total proteins, albumin, creatinine, iron, ferritin, transferrin, C-reactive protein, α1-acid glycoprotein, total iron-binding capacity, ascorbic acid, α-tocopherol, and malondialdehyde were measured during the first days of hospitalization.

Results

Albumin concentrations were significantly lower (P < 0.05) and C-reactive protein concentrations were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in patients with pressure sores compared with controls. Concentrations of ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol were significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in patients who had pressure sores or infection, whereas malondialdehyde concentrations were significantly increased (P < 0.05) compared with control patients. Five of 11 patients (55.56%) with pressure sores and 10 of 12 patients (83.33%) with pneumonia presented serum ascorbic acid concentrations below the reference value (34 to 91 μmol/L). Concentrations of ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol versus malondialdehyde were significantly correlated in the three patient groups (r = −0.44, P < 0.05; r = −0.55, P < 0.01, respectively).

Conclusion

Patients with pressure sores and acute infection present a systemic inflammatory response accompanied by an increase in lipid peroxidation that is associated with decreased serum ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol levels, suggesting that these patients may be at risk for important nutritional deficiencies.

Key words:  Pressure sores , Acute-phase response , Oxidative stress , Ascorbic acid , α-Tocopherol

To access this article, please choose from the options below

Login to an existing account or Register a new account.

  • Purchase this article for 31.50 USD (You must login/register to purchase this article)

    Online access for 24 hours. The PDF version can be downloaded as your permanent record.

  • Subscribe to this title

    Get unlimited online access to this article and all other articles in this title 24/7 for one year.

  • Claim access now

    For current subscribers with Society Membership or Account Number.

  • Visit SciVerse ScienceDirect to see if you have access via your institution.
 

 This study was supported by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais-FAPEMIG; Teaching-Hospital, School Medicine of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba-MG; and Nutrition on Division of the Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, USP.

PII: S0899-9007(05)00165-6

doi:10.1016/j.nut.2005.01.008

Nutrition
Volume 21, Issue 9 , Pages 901-907, September 2005