Plasma Protein Pattern in Acute Infectious Diseases

Abstract

The plasma concentrations of 9 of the plasma proteins designated acute phase reactants were determined in patients with peritonsillitis, serous meningoencephalitis, or influenza A. Haptoglobin, orosomucoid, antichymotrypsin, α₁-antitrypsin, and fibrinogen were markedly increased in all three diseases, but most pronounced in peritonsillitis. The pattern of the protein response differed in influenza A, where the mean value of C3 was not increased and the mean of C4 was only moderately increased. The increase in concentration of ceruloplasmin in influenza A was only moderate. The concentration of C-reactive protein rose to values 3–10 times as high in peritonsillitis as in the other two diseases.

Key Words:

• Acute phase reaction
• inflammation
• influenza A
• meningoencephalitis
• serous
• peritonsillitis