Renal Function in Burned Rats with Reference to the Effect of Intravascular Coagulation

Abstract

The importance of the coagulation process in the renal functional changes was studied following a standardized, sublethal third degree thermal injury in rats covering 14% of the body surface. Immediately post-burn, the glomerular filtration rate, measured as clearance of PEG 1000, decreased to about one-third of the pre-burn value, which gradually was regained within 24 hours. No decrease in the TmPAH/GFR ratio, indicating impairment of the tubular secretory capacity, was found. The serum urea nitrogen level was moderately elevated 24 hours after the burn, but at later intervals normal values were found. Anticoagulation with heparin or fibrinolysis inhibition with tranexamic acid did not influence the results of the GFR, TmPAH or serum urea nitrogen measurements and therefore no causative connection was found between a coagulation process and the renal functional changes in this trauma model.