DETECTION OF INTRAABDOMINAL ABSCESS BY SERUM LYSOZYME ESTIMATION

Background. The failure of new, innovative, and often expensive tests to show the presence of one. Lysozyme is a bacteriolytic enzyme locate d within the lysosomes of phagocytic cells including leukocytes. Metho ds. We measured serum concentrations of lysozyme by a standard turbidi metric method in both a murine model of intraabdominal infection and i n trauma patients with intraabdominal abscesses or other acquired infe ctions. Results. In mice with intraabdominal abscess secondary to ceca l ligation and puncture (n = 35) serum lysozyme activity increased com pared with sham-operated controls (n = 20; p < 0.001). In trauma patie nts with intraabdominal abscess after injury and surgery (n = 19), the re was also an with lung infection (n = 15; p < 0.001). The increase o f serum lysozyme activity occurred before intraabdominal sepsis was cl inically apparent. Conclusions. In this study, serum lysozyme concentr ation has a high specificity related to the presence of an intraabdomi nal abscess and is an indirect measure of the sequestration of leukocy tes to the site of an established or developing collection of intraabd ominal pus. The estimation of serum lysozyme may be an aid to differen tiate critically ill patients with a potential occult intraabdominal a bscess.