[Relationship between acute phase reactant proteins (APRP) and fatigue during post-operative convalescence]

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Immunology
• Surgical Science

Context:

• Surgery induces a significant inflammatory state, initiating an acute phase response (APR).
• Understanding the dynamics of APR proteins (APRP) post-surgery is crucial for patient recovery.
• Elective abdominal surgery provides a model to study these physiological changes.

Purpose:

• To assess variations in serum APRP following elective abdominal surgery.
• To investigate the relationship between APRP changes and patient fatigue.
• To analyze fatigue using both subjective reporting and objective dynamometry.

Summary:

• Serum APRP levels (e.g., PT, ALB, PAB, TRF, CER) exhibited significant variations during the post-operative period (9, 27, and 45 days).
• Specific proteins decreased (e.g., PAB, PBR) while others increased (e.g., CER) at different post-operative time points.
• Post-operative fatigue, measured subjectively and objectively via dynamometry, showed a correlation with these APRP fluctuations.

Impact:

• Demonstrates quantifiable changes in serum proteins and APRP after surgery.
• Establishes a link between surgical-induced inflammation and patient fatigue.
• Highlights the potential of using APRP and a mathematical model for fatigue assessment post-surgery.