Plasma protein changes in chronic osteomyelitis of the jaws

In the present study, quantification of different serum proteins known as inflammatory reactans was performed during different stages of chronic osteomyelitis of the jaws, to find a suitable tool for evaluation of treatment. In all 46 sera from 17 osteomyelitis patients and 6 healthy subjects were analyzed. Repeated measurements of alfa-1-antitrypsin, orosomucoid and haptoglobin could be recommended for following-up the effect of treatment, although too extensive conclusions should not be drawn from single measurements. The serum levels of these proteins seemed to co-vary with the clinical activity of the disease. Since the synthesis of the immunoglobulins only indirectly reflects the inflammatory activity, they are not considered to be suitable markers of inflammation, although their concentration in serum varied with the clinical activity. A certain "mass of inflammation" seemed to be necessary before raised values of C-reactive protein were detected. No information was gained from albumin concentration.