Alpha-Trinositol Inhibits Edema Generation and Albumin Extravasation in Thermally Injured Skin

Pharmacologic attempts to reduce edema generation and albumin extravasation into thermally injured skin have until recently been disappointing unless the drugs (usually antiphlogistic or anti-inflammatory drugs) were given before injury. We have studied the effect of alpha-trinositol (PP56, i.e., 1D-myo-inositol-1,2,6-trisphosphate) given after the injury in an experimental full-thickness 10% TBSA scald burn in anesthetized rats. Total tissue water content (TTW) and albumin extravasation (Ealb) were determined in injured and noninjured skin (series I, n = 12). Interstitial fluid hydrostatic pressure (Pif) was measured in injured skin (series II, n = 14). alpha-Trinositol was administered (alpha-trinositol groups) as an i.v. bolus (40 mg/kg) at 5 minutes after injury followed by an i.v. infusion (1.3 mg/kg/min). In both series a placebo group received burn injury and normal saline in equal volumes instead of alpha-trinositol. Compared with placebo, alpha-trinositol reduced TTW and Ealb as well as the increased negatively of Pif in injured tissue significantly. The effect on Ealb was most prominent, with a reduction from 153.9 +/- 35.6 (SEM) microL/g in the NaCl group to 23.1 +/- 6.3 after alpha-trinositol (p < 0.005). Total tissue water was reduced from 2.51 +/- 0.13 to 2.17 +/- 0.06 mL/g (p < 0.05) and Pif (measured between 21 and 40 minutes postinjury) from -24.7 +/- 4.1 to -3.2 +/- 1.1 mm Hg (p < 0.005).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)