Effects of cardiac surgery on some clinically used inflammation markers and procalcitonin

One hundred and ten patients were investigated prospectively in a study aimed at creating reference curves for inflammation markers (serum C-reactive protein (CRP), blood leukocyte count, iron, transthyretin and procalcitonin). Blood samples were taken daily and the patients were monitored for signs of infection. Ninety-six patients had no postoperative infections. CRP and leukocyte counts peaked on the third and second postoperative days, respectively. Neither patients operated on off-pump (n = 4) nor patients with minor infections (n = 11) differed from the non-infected group. Two out of three patients with major postoperative infection exhibited a secondary peak in CRP and leukocyte count. Iron and transthyretin decreased initially, followed by a slow increase without any difference between the groups. Procalcitonin was high in some non-infected patients and low in some infected patients. CRP and leukocyte count had a predictable course with a secondary peak in major infections but the other markers did not provide any valuable information.