Mannan-binding lectin (MBL) is a central component of the innate immune system. Here we investigated the role of MBL in surgical patients during the peri-operative phase. Basal and post-operative (days 1–3 post-surgery) serum samples were obtained prospectively from 156 patients undergoing major elective gastrointestinal surgery for malignant disease. In contrast to procalcitonin (a typical acute-phase protein), there was no significant difference in serum MBL between pre- and post-operative samples (P=0.62). Nevertheless, patients who developed post-operative infections showed significantly lower pre- and post-operative MBL levels than those who did not (P=0.013 and P=0.005, respectively). There was no significant difference in pre-operative procalcitonin between the two groups (P=0.56). We conclude (i) that serum MBL levels did not respond immediately to surgical trauma, and (ii) that lower MBL levels were associated with an increased occurrence of post-operative infections. Studies on larger patient groups are necessary, however, to assess the value of MBL measurements in identifying patients at risk of post-operative complications.
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August 2003
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Conference Article|
August 01 2003
Mannan-binding lectin (MBL) serum levels and post-operative infections
M. Siassi;
M. Siassi
1
Department of Surgery, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
1To whom correspondence should be addressed (e-mail michael@siassi.de).
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W. Hohenberger;
W. Hohenberger
Department of Surgery, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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J. Riese
J. Riese
Department of Surgery, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Online ISSN: 1470-8752
Print ISSN: 0300-5127
© 2003 Biochemical Society
2003
Biochem Soc Trans (2003) 31 (4): 774–775.
Citation
M. Siassi, W. Hohenberger, J. Riese; Mannan-binding lectin (MBL) serum levels and post-operative infections. Biochem Soc Trans 1 August 2003; 31 (4): 774–775. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/bst0310774
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