title: Plasma-specific proteins: their response to surgical trauma and tumour load, and modification of this response by post-operative metabolic support.
abstract: Concentrations of plasma proteins with short half-life have been suggested as indicators of nutritional state in surgical patients. Trauma also affects the circulating concentrations of these proteins. Serum concentrations of retinol binding protein (RBP), pre-albumin and transferrin were determined pre- and post-operatively on different supporting regimens. The circulating concentration of these liver proteins displayed no differential effect of the supporting regimen during the first 5 post-operative days. None of the patients with tumour demonstrated any indication of hepatic metastases pre-operatively or at the time of laparotomy but, as a group, had lower pre-operative concentrations of RBP (p < 0.001) and pre-albumin (p < 0.01) than patients with no tumour load. In addition 55% of patients (15:27) with tumour had RBP concentrations <3.5 mg/dl; all of the non-tumour bearing patients (13/13) had RBP concentrations >3.5 mg/dl. RBP and pre-albumin appear to act as non-specific tumour markers, but not to serve a useful function as short-term nutritional markers of post-operative support.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Surgery and Clinical Biochemistry, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB9 2ZD, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Broom
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Casson
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Morison
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Simpson