CLINICAL RELEVANCE OF SERUM AMYLOID-A PROTEIN MONITORING IN URINARY-TRACT INFECTIONS

We have evaluated the clinical relevance of monitoring acute phase pro teins in severe urinary tract infection. Body temperature, white blood cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, serum amyloid A protein ( SAA), C-reactive protein (CRP), alpha-1-antichymotrypsin (ACT) and alp ha-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) were determined daily in sera from 18 tre ated patients. Two patterns of response could be identified: responder s and non-responders whose therapy had to be changed. Mean values for each acute phase protein were calculated daily in both responders and non-responders. Statistical evaluation of the significance between the means for each protein was also performed on a daily basis and showed P < 0.01 for SAA and CRP on day 3, for ACT on day 5, and for AGP on d ay 6. SAA and CRP appear to be the most reliable markers for antimicro bial therapy monitoring in patients with urinary tract infections.