title: Circulating human fractalkine is decreased post-operatively after orthopedic and coronary bypass surgery.
abstract: Fractalkine is an important chemokine involved in resolving normal inflammatory processes such as wound healing. Soluble fractalkine acts as a chemoattractant bringing cytotoxic and cytokine-producing cells to areas of inflammation. The aim of the present study was to investigate circulating fractalkine during inflammatory response induced by surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fractalkine was analyzed in serum samples from orthopedic surgery patients (n=29) and coronary bypass patients (n=21). The samples were collected prior to surgery and 4 and 30 days after surgery, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fractalkine concentrations decreased from pre-operative levels of 1,764 (1,330-2,434) pg/mL to 1,520 (1,330-2,434) pg/mL at 4 days after surgery, and to 1,285 (1,099-1,462) pg/mL 30 days after surgery in patients undergoing orthopedic procedures (p<0.01, 30 days post-operatively versus pre-operatively). Furthermore, fractalkine concentrations decreased significantly from pre-operative levels of 1,856 (1,520-2,434) pg/mL to 1,338 (964-1,650) pg/mL 4 days post-operatively and to 1,266 (1,080-1,338) pg/mL 30 days post-operatively in patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery (p<0.01, 30 days post-operative versus pre-operative values).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A significant and persistent decrease in circulating fractalkine was observed after orthopedic and coronary bypass surgery despite a marked inflammatory response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University Hospital, SE 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden. anders.larsson@akademiska.se.
authors.forename: Torbjörn
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akerfeldt
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Helmersson-Karlqvist
authors.forename: Torsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gordh
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Larsson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D054428:Chemokine CX3CL1 / Q000097:blood*; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011184:Postoperative Period; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D054428:Chemokine CX3CL1
keywords: C-reactive protein; fractalkine; inflammation; surgery