Dysregulation of the actin scavenging system and inhibition of DNase activity following severe thermal injury

Circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is not found in healthy subjects, but is readily detected after thermal injury and may contribute to the risk of multiple organ failure. The hypothesis was that a postburn reduction in DNase protein/enzyme activity could contribute to the increase in cfDNA following thermal injury.Patients with severe burns covering at least 15 per cent of total body surface area were recruited to a prospective cohort study...