MEASUREMENTS OF C-REACTIVE PROTEIN AND C4 LEVELS IN DIAGNOSIS OF PYREXIA AFTER MICROVASCULAR DECOMPRESSION FOR TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA

Serial tests for serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and C4 levels were car ried out on 20 patients undergoing microvascular decompression (MVD) f or trigeminal neuralgia with interposition of synthetic material (Tefl on ir Dacron). These proteins represent important elements of host def ense mechanisms against invading pathogens and their serum levels migh t be of value in distinguishing bacterial meningitis from tissue react ion to synthetic material. According to post-operative pyrexia, patien ts were classified into three groups: gr 1 (n = 4): apyrexia, gr 2 (n = 11): pyrexia from 38 degrees C to 39 degrees C, gr 3 (n = 5) pyrexia upper 39 degrees C. Such frequent hyperpyrexia provides a clinical di lemna about meningitis. In 2 patients high CRP levels, 4 days after su rgery, indicated the presence of meningitis. In all other patients, CR P levels were decreasing rapidly and normal levels were reached by day 8. All C4 levels were normal values. Measurements of CRP contributed to diagnose common meningitis reactions. Theses reactions seemed more frequent with Dacron and Teflon than with Teflon alone. Though non sig nificative this difference deserves confirmation by fuller investigati ons.