Observational Study of Insulin Resistance and Muscle Wasting After Burn Injury

Project 4: Molecular Mechanisms in Burn-induced Insulin Resistance in Humans

The purpose of this study is to examine important and significant problems, that of insulin resistance and muscle wasting after burn injury.

Burn injury induces insulin resistance and our investigators have previous shown the importance of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1)-mediated pathways. This project will establish the inhibitory effects of burn injury on IRS-1 mediated signaling in human skeletal muscle of burn patients.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Burn injury >=10% total body surface area involvement from any etiology that will require surgical treatment
• Age 18 years or older
• Admitted to the Massachusetts General Hospital within 30 days of burn injury
• Patient or guardian who is capable of giving full informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Decision not to treat due to severity of injury
• Presence of anoxic brain injury that is not expected to result in complete recovery
• Existence of co-morbid conditions of malignancy currently under treatment, medical condition requiring glucocorticoid treatment, insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, morbid obesity defined as body mass index >= 40