Medical Shock: Abnormal Biochemical Changes in Patients with Severe, Acute Medical Illnesses, with and without Peripheral Vascular Failure

Abstract

Twelve patients suffering chiefly from infection, cardiovascular disease, or poisoning were studied. The biochemical changes found were: hyperglycemia, lactacidemia, fall in bicarbonate reserve, reduction of oxygen saturation of peripheral blood, frequent elevation of [alpha] amino nitrogen of blood plasma. There was usually a lengthening of the prothrombin time, and an elevation of the icterus index. There was a marked correlation between the degree of peripheral vascular failure and the biochemical changes.