Objective: The determination of 20S proteasome concentration in the blood plasma of children with appendicitis and its correlation with CRP.
Design and setting: Thirty-one children with acute appendicitis, were randomly included into the study (age 5 years up to 17 years, mean age 11.5 + 1 years).
Participants: There were 17 girls and 14 boys. Eighteen healthy, age-matched subjects, admitted for planned surgeries served as controls. Exclusion criteria were: severe preexisting infections, immunological or cardiovascular diseases that required long-term medication, and complicated cases of appendicitis with perforation of appendix and/or peritonitis.
Main outcome measures: The 20S proteasome concentrations in the blood plasma of patients with acute appendicitis were highest before the surgery and were above the range of concentrations measured in controls, and the difference was statistically significant.
Results: The 20S proteasome concentration measured 24 and 72 h after the operation, slowly decreased over time, and still did not reach the normal range, when compared with the concentration measured in controls (p < 0.05).
Conclusions: 20S proteasome concentration may reflect the metabolic response to acute state inflammation, and the process of gradual ebbing of the inflammation. The method of operation-classic open appendectomy, or laparoscopic appendectomy, does not influence the general trend in 20S proteasome concentration.