[Acute phase proteins as markers of septic risk in surgical patients]

A heterogeneous group of surgery patients at septic risk was studied through monitoring of acute phase proteins (APP). Plasma levels of 8 acute phase proteins (C-reactive, alpha-1 antitrypsin, fibrinogen, ceruloplasmin, transferrin, albumin, prealbumin, alpha-2 macroglobulin) were measured in the pre- and postoperative period of septic surgery patients suffering from disease processes in various sites and with different aetiopathogenesis. The experiment is related to some interesting research proposed by authors in the Shock Physiopathology Study Centre of the Catholic University of Rome and their results. The constant finding of increased values of PCR, fibrin, cerul, alpha-1 Tryp in the septic risk surgery patient and their normalisation following treatment is particularly significant. In these same cases, a depression or, depending on circumstances, normal findings of Transf, alpha-2 Macro, Albu and Prealbu were observed. The results point to the practical utility an high reliability of APP changes as markers of septic risk.