Factors predicting postoperative infectious complications and early induction of inflammatory mediators in ulcerative colitis patients.

BACKGROUND

Positive outcomes after restorative proctocolectomy are compromised by a number of specific septic complications. However, there is no useful perioperative marker predicting postoperative infectious complications (PICs) in steroid overdosed patients with ulcerative colitis (UC).

METHODS

To determine factors associated with PICs and their relation to circulating levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and neutrophil elastase (NE), we obtained perioperative blood samples from 60 UC patients.

RESULTS

Postoperative infectious complications were identified in 47% of cases. Patients who developed PICs had significantly longer disease duration, had been administered a greater total preoperative dosage of prednisolone, and had a higher body mass index. Logistic regression analysis showed that the total preoperative dosage of prednisolone was independently associated with the development of PICs. These patients showed suppressed systemic inflammation and pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine induction. An early increase in the NE level was found to be predictive of PICs in the high-dose group, whereas there was no significant difference in neutrophil counts between the high- and low-dose groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Circulating NE levels in the early postoperative period might be a useful predictor of PICs in immune-controlled UC patients who received high doses of steroids.