GROUP-II PHOSPHOLIPASE-A(2) IN SERUM IN CRITICALLY ILL SURGICAL PATIENTS

Objective: To study the association of increased serum group II phosph olipase A(2) concentrations to C-reactive protein concentrations in th e sera of critically ill surgical patients. Design: Prospective study. Setting: Surgical intensive care unit (ICU) of a university hospital. Patients: Sixty-seven consecutive patients admitted to the surgical I CU. Interventions: The catalytic activity of phospholipase A(2) and th e serum concentrations of group II phospholipase A(2) and C-reactive p rotein were measured daily during each patient's stay in the ICU. A to tal of 205 blood samples were taken. In addition, the preoperative ser um levels of group II phospholipase A(2) were determined in patients a dmitted for cardiac surgery. Measurements and Main Results: Serum grou p II phospholipase A(2) values correlated statistically significantly with the catalytic activity of phospholipase A(2) and serum C-reactive protein values. In particular, severe infections, diseases involving tissue destruction, and elective operations per se, caused considerabl e increases in serum group II phospholipase A, concentrations. Conclus ion: Our results support the earlier presented idea that group II phos pholipase A(2) is an acute-phase reactant.