Acute-phase proteins in appendicitis in childhood: new findings

The diagnosis of acute appendicitis in children can be sometimes difficult. The monitoring of acute phase protein response has been suggested as an accurate diagnostic procedure in these patients. This response is an aspecific event caused by phlogosis, infections and traumatisms; it is accomplished by the hepatic release of "endogenous leukocytic mediators" (L.E.M.) among which can be remembered IL-6 and IL-7. The acute phase proteins can be distinguished into positive and negative factors. Many authors used the acute phase protein response in order to stratify the severity of disease, to evaluate the efficacy of therapy and to find out any complication. They actually think that this response is useful to draw up a prognostic index in each patient. This second part of a study started in 1994 is based on the evaluation of the preoperative acute phase proteins values in pediatric patients affected by acute appendicitis underwent to surgery. The results of the statistic analysis show the utility of the evaluation of these parameters in the preoperative period; in particular G.B. count and P.C.R. rates very early with significant statistics, while the other values change later and are more difficult to interpret.