Immunological Markers Associated with Postoperative Infection After Ureteroscopic Lithotripsy in Patients With Upper...

Postoperative infection is a severe complication of ureteroscopic lithotripsy for upper urinary tract calculi. This study aimed to analyze the association of immunological markers, including C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin (ALB), and heparin-binding protein (HBP), with postoperative infection. A total of 177 patients who underwent surgery between June 2020 and June 2024 were enrolled. Patients were classified into an infection group (41 cases) and a non-infection group (136 cases) based on postoperative infection status. Multivariate logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed. Results showed that postoperative HBP, CRP, and ALB levels were independent factors associated with postoperative infection (p < 0.05). The optimal cutoff values were 19.56 mg/L for CRP, 40.7 g/L for ALB, and 79.05 ng/mL for HBP, with area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.684, 0.654, and 0.733, respectively. Combined detection of the three indicators yielded an AUC of 0.803 (p < 0.05). In conclusion, postoperative CRP, ALB, and HBP are associated with postoperative infection after ureteroscopic lithotripsy and may aid in risk assessment. Further validation is needed before clinical application.