Zinc Metabolism in Patients with Severe Burns

Abstract

Serum zinc concentration in six patients and urinary zinc excretion in four patients with major burns were recorded daily for 5–18 days during the early postburn period. Hypozincaemia was observed initially in all the patients. The four patients examined had hyperzincuria of varying severity. The urinary zinc excretions varied in parallel with the urinary potassium and magnesium excretions. It is suggested that the zincuria was due to excretion of material from damaged cells.