The biological tests used in acute-phase of inflammation in bone infection

We present a comparative study of different biological tests in the acute phase of inflammation. The study was performed in 80 patients after surgical procedures in septic cases. We have compared the levels of C-Reactive Protein (CRP), C3, C3a, C4, To, sedimentation rate, and the leucocyte count. The analysis was made before surgery and every week until the ninth week after surgery. The variations in CRP which ocurred very early were extensive. The increase ranged between 200 and 600% after the surgical procedure. In cases without complications the CRP level returned to normal within 20 days. The study showed the CRP as the most specific and sensitive biological test of the acute phase of inflammation. However this biological test cannot differentiate between an acute infective and a severe inflammatory process.