title: Mannan-binding lectin (MBL) serum levels and post-operative infections.
abstract: Mannan-binding lectin (MBL) is a central component of the innate immune system. Here we investigated the role of MBL in surgical patients during the peri-operative phase. Basal and post-operative (days 1-3 post-surgery) serum samples were obtained prospectively from 156 patients undergoing major elective gastrointestinal surgery for malignant disease. In contrast to procalcitonin (a typical acute-phase protein), there was no significant difference in serum MBL between pre- and post-operative samples (P=0.62). Nevertheless, patients who developed post-operative infections showed significantly lower pre- and post-operative MBL levels than those who did not (P=0.013 and P=0.005, respectively). There was no significant difference in pre-operative procalcitonin between the two groups (P=0.56). We conclude (i) that serum MBL levels did not respond immediately to surgical trauma, and (ii) that lower MBL levels were associated with an increased occurrence of post-operative infections. Studies on larger patient groups are necessary, however, to assess the value of MBL measurements in identifying patients at risk of post-operative complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany. michael@siassi.de
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Siassi
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hohenberger
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Riese
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D037601:Mannose-Binding Lectin / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D019990:Perioperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: C000606589:CALCA protein, human; D037601:Mannose-Binding Lectin; D011498:Protein Precursors; D002116:Calcitonin; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide