Early acute phase response following total hip replacement.

BACKGROUND: The acute phase proteins are commonly known universal markers of the inflammatory process. The aim of the study was the evaluation of the acute phase response in the first 6 months THR. The secondary aim was to check if the type of hip replacement affects the acute phase response. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 40 patients who underwent THA using uncemented (20) and cemented (20) endoprostheses. The concentrations of C-reactive protein, alpha-glycoprotein, and alpha-1-antichymotripsin, and microheterogeneity of AGP were evaluated. RESULTS: The blood levels of the acute phase proteins CRP, AGP, ACT rose significantly at 2 and 14 days after the surgery to return to preoperative values at 6 months after the surgery. The V3 variant of microheterogeneity of AGP, absent under normal conditions, and representative of acute inflammation, was found in a few patients preoperatively. In postoperative evaluations, it was found in the vast majority of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis of the profiles of the glycosylation of AGP shows that the presence of the acute inflammatory response immediately following total hip replacement, which later changes into persistent chronic inflammation, is more pronounced in patients receiving cemented endoprosthesis.