Abstract
Altered electrolyte metabolism is reflected in changes in serum concentration and total balance in patients with infectious diseases. A sub-lethal experimental sepsis was induced with 108 S. typhimurium organism administered intravenously to determine what role muscle plays in these changes. Muscle samples were obtained by needle biopsy. During the 3 day febrile phase, K wasting was evident in muscle, serum, and in urine. This returned to normal after the lysis of fever. The metabolism of Na and water was independent from that of K. During the febrile period, muscle H2O increased, and muscle and serum Na increased. Although antidiuresis persisted throughout the first 6 days of illness, an Na diuresis occurred during the period of fever. With the lysis of fever, renal Na retention occurred, muscle Na and H2O increased to twice the basal levels and serum Na fell 20 mEq/L. It can be concluded that muscle uptake of Na and H2O plays a significant role in the modulation of serum concentrations and the renal filtered load in experimental sepsis. K depletion was secondary to renal wasting, K loss was in excess of nitrogen loss from muscle. However, studies with the Electron Microprobe for direct determination of intracellular concentration indicate that intracellular dilutions play a major role in the reduction of cellular K during infection.
Support:NIH-RR-00188,NASA NGR 9-12728,U.S. Army DAMD-17-74-C-4079
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nichols, B., Bilbrey, G., Kimzey, S. et al. 800 MUSCLE ELECTROLYTE METABOLISM IN MONKEYS WITH EXPERIMENTAL SALMONELLA SEPSIS. Pediatr Res 12 (Suppl 4), 497 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00805
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00805