In vitro leukocyte endogenous mediator production is not impaired following surgical stress in moderately malnourished patients.
Leukocyte endogenous mediator (LEM), a protein produced by phagocytizing cells, plays a critical role in the metabolic response to injury and infection. There is an important interaction between protein-calorie malnutrition and the capacity of cells to produce LEM, since severely malnourished or severely stressed individuals, have a reduced capacity to produce LEM. The leukocytes of 10 mildly to moderately malnourished patients undergoing elective major surgery, a moderate stress, had an intact ability to produce LEM on preoperative assessment. This ability was not affected by a 5-day postoperative period of hypocaloric nutrient intake despite a significant loss of body protein in one-half of the patients and a significant fall in serum protein concentrations. These results suggest a high biologic priority for LEM production during the metabolic response to injury and for infection.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000009:adverse effects*
D001798:Blood Proteins; D007375:Interleukin-1; D011506:Proteins; C008270:leukocyte endogenous mediator