Postsurgical Acute Phase Reaction is Associated with Decreased Levels of Circulating Myostatin.

Abstract

Muscle strength is of importance for postsurgical rehabilitation. Myostatin is a growth factor that regulates the size of muscles and could thus influence muscle mass and function in the postsurgical period. The aim of the present study was to study the changes in myostatin levels during the postsurgical inflammatory period. Myostatin was analysed in serum samples from two elective surgery groups, orthopaedic surgery (n = 24) and coronary bypass patients (n = 21). The samples were collected prior to surgery and 4 and 30days after surgery. In the orthopaedic group, the median myostatin levels decreased from 3582ng/L prior to surgery to 774ng/L at day 4 (p < 0.001) and to 2016ng/L at day 30 (p < 0.001). Median CRP increased from 2.35mg/L preoperatively to 117mg/L at day 4 and decreased to 5.5mg/L at day 30 in the same group. The coronary bypass group showed a similar pattern with a decrease in myostatin from 4212ng/L to 2574ng/L at day 4 (p < 0.001) and to 2808ng/L at day 30 (p = 0.002). Median CRP increased from 1.80mg/L preoperatively to 136mg/L at day 4 and returned to 6.12mg/L at day 30 in the coronary bypass group. There was a significant decrease in myostatin concentrations both in the early and late postsurgical period. The lowest myostatin concentration time point coincided with the highest CRP concentration time point.