Perioperative functional activity of the alternative pathway of complement in patients with colonic cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the functional capacity of the alternative pathway of complement in patients with cancer of the colon before, during, and after operation.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
One university and two district hospitals, Denmark.


METHODS
28 patients having elective or emergency operations for colonic cancer.


METHODS
Measurements of C3b fixing capacity of the alternative complement pathway in serum before, during, and after operation.


METHODS
The functional capacity of the alternative pathway of complement, and changes during operation.


RESULTS
The functional capacity of the alternative pathway in patients with cancer of the colon was above normal (p < 0.0001 for both men and women), and the capacity remained unchanged during operation despite dilution of serum peroperatively.


CONCLUSIONS
The alternative pathway seems to be the only immunological variable that has so far been shown to have increased functional capacity in patients with cancer, and that remains unaltered (mean value) during operation. The importance of retaining normal function of the alternative complement pathway in the prevention of postoperative infective complications and recurrence of cancer has not yet been elucidated.
Baatrup
G
G
Department of Surgical Gastroenterology, Aalborg Hospital, Denmark.
Zimmermann-Nielsen
E
E
Qvist
N
N
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000601:surgery; D003179:Complement C3b / Q000378:metabolism; D003168:Complement Fixation Tests; D003170:Complement Pathway, Alternative / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000276:immunology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values
D003179:Complement C3b