Effects of cardiac surgery on some clinically used inflammation markers and procalcitonin.
One hundred and ten patients were investigated prospectively in a study aimed at creating reference curves for inflammation markers (serum C-reactive protein (CRP), blood leukocyte count, iron, transthyretin and procalcitonin). Blood samples were taken daily and the patients were monitored for signs of infection. Ninety-six patients had no postoperative infections. CRP and leukocyte counts peaked on the third and second postoperative days, respectively. Neither patients operated on off-pump (n = 4) nor patients with minor infections (n = 11) differed from the non-infected group. Two out of three patients with major postoperative infection exhibited a secondary peak in CRP and leukocyte count. Iron and transthyretin decreased initially, followed by a slow increase without any difference between the groups. Procalcitonin was high in some non-infected patients and low in some infected patients. CRP and leukocyte count had a predictable course with a secondary peak in major infections but the other markers did not provide any valuable information.
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. Catarina.Bitkover@thxkir.ks.se
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Bitkover
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Hansson
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Valen
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Vaage
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood*; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood*; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D011228:Prealbumin / Q000378:metabolism; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D018746:Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology
C000606589:CALCA protein, human; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D011228:Prealbumin; D011498:Protein Precursors; D002116:Calcitonin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D007501:Iron; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide