Are the serum levels of endotoxin‐binding proteins reliable predictors of complications in the course of peritonitis?

Abstract

In the present study, the serum levels of the endotoxin-binding proteins transferrin, alpha 2-macroglobulin and Gc-globulin were nephelometrically determined in the morning of the first day after surgical treatment of peritonitis. The aim was to determine whether the occurrence of organ failure can be predicted by the serum levels of the described proteins. A serum level of transferrin below 1.15 g l-1 allows the prediction of organ failure with a sensitivity of 78.6% and a specificity of 81.8%. As in the case of alpha 2-macroglobulin, sensitivity and specificity reached 67.8% and 72.7% respectively at a border level of 1.05 g l-1. The predictive value of Gc-globulin, limit 0.2 g l-1, was in the same range. So the serum levels of these proteins allow an early prediction of forthcoming organ failure in the course of peritonitis. Furthermore, these results support the significance of the endotoxin interaction with these proteins.