Protein carbonyl measurements show evidence of early oxidative stress in critically ill patients

Our results provide evidence of oxidation occurring early in severe sepsis and major trauma patients, with protein carbonyl measurements providing a sensitive index of this process. High protein carbonyl concentrations in plasma as well as bronchial aspirates indicate that oxidation is not restricted to the lungs. The correlation between oxidative measures and myeloperoxidase concentrations in the lung indicates that neutrophil oxidants could be responsible for the injury.