Introduction: Infective endocarditis (IE) is still connected with high operative mortality. Inflammatory markers are commonly used in monitoring patient clinical condition. Respiratory burst and reactive oxygen species (ROS) are the main way of pathogen elimination. Specificity of this process in the aspect of bacterial infection is the key for correlation assessment between ROS and inflammatory markers in patients with IE. In the study, assessment of ROS as a clinical indicator in IE was conducted.
Material and methods: During 2007/2008 in the Cardiosurgical Clinic of the Medical University in Lodz there were 20 patients operated on for IE. The examined population consisted of 13 men and 7 women, aged from 23 to 74 years. Inflammatory markers – leukocytosis (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) – were assessed preoperatively, on the 3^rd, 7^th, 12^th and 21^st day. Simultaneously, with the second venous blood sample chemiluminescence (luminal enhanced whole blood chemiluminescence) was carried out and used to assess ROS production. The results were analyzed statistically.
Results: Positive correlation between ESR, CRP and ROS in the preoperative period was confirmed. An increase in ROS and a statistically significant increase in inflammatory markers on the 3^rd day were observed. The ROS normalized on the 12^th day. Marked individual variability was specific for the inflammatory markers. Despite the significant decrease, not all of them achieved a normal level at the last control point.
Conclusions: Assessment of ROS seems to be a universal parameter with possible application in patients with IE.