Objective: To investigate the myocardial injury by hydrofluoric acid in burned rabbits
Methods: New Zealand white rabbits were injured with 2% TBSA III degree skin burn on the back by hydrofluoric acid. The blood and tissue samples were taken from the rabbit after injury for the detection of myocardial and related enzymes and the pathomorphological examination.
Results: (1) Postburn myocardial enzymes increased significantly compared to those before burn (P < 0.01). (2) All the myocardial enzymes reached their peak levels within 48 postburn hours and were higher than those before burn (P < 0.01). (3) Among all the enzymes, CPK increased by 97.5% and those of LDH, AST and CK-MB by 81.9%, 76.1% and 60.3%, respectively. (4) Pathomorphological findings with LM were the granular degeneration and focal necrosis of myocardial fibers, interstitial hemorrhage of myocardium accompanied with neutrophil and lymphocyte infiltration. Ultrastructural changes included myofibril decrease or even disappearing, severe cellular and mitochondrial swelling, disappearing of mitochondrial crista, endothelial swelling, decrease of electronic density with the exhibiting of bulla and deformation of myocardial cellular nucleus.
Conclusion: Myocardial function could be damaged after hydrofluoric acid burn. Therefore, special attention should be paid to the protection of cardiac function after hydrofluoric acid burn by strengthening the monitoring of myocardial enzymes and ECG, etc.