title: Lumbar disc surgery and variations in C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and the complement split product C 3 d.
abstract: Lumbar disc surgery was performed in fifty consecutive patients and variation in erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), complement C 3 d, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels before and after surgery were recorded. Preoperative values were within normal limits in all patients. Postoperatively, CRP increased immediately, with a maximum of 28.5 mg/l on the 2nd day and were normalized within 6 days. The maximum ESR elevation occurred after the 6th day and was followed by a slow decrease. After 12 weeks some patients still had an elevated ESR. Plasma C 3 varied pari passu with the ESR. Uncomplicated recovery after lumbar disc surgery seems to be indicated by a normalization of CRP, regardless of ESR values. Therefore, ESR may not be so useful as an indicator of disc space inflammation as previously accepted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Odense University Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kock-Jensen
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Brandslund
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Søgaard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000097:blood*; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000032:analysis*; D015933:Complement C3d; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000601:surgery*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D003176:Complement C3; D015933:Complement C3d; D002097:C-Reactive Protein