[Alteration of serum levels of endotoxin, polymorphonuclear leukocyte elastase, and the molecular markers of the coagulation and fibrinolytic system in the patients with esophageal cancer and lung cancer before and following operation].

The serum levels of endotoxin, polymorphonuclear leukocyte elastase (PMN-E), and the coagulation and fibrinolytic markers (D-dimer, TAT) were measured in the patients with esophageal cancer, lung cancer, and benign pulmonary tumors before and after the operation; on the day of operation, and the 1st, 3rd, and 7th postoperative day. The biological responses of the patients under surgical stress were evaluated. In the patients without complications, the endotoxin levels measured by the Toxicolor method and the PMN-E levels did show any significant increase in the early postoperative period, and they returned to the normal levels by the 7th postoperative day. On the contrary, in the patients with postoperative complications, they continued to increase throughout the study period. The endotoxin levels measured by the Endospacy test did not show any significant changes postoperatively. The D-dimer and TAT levels showed their highest values on the first postoperative day. The serum levels of endotoxin, PMN-E, and molecular markers of the coagulation and fibrinolytic system in the patients under surgical stress may be useful factors in predicting the postoperative outcome.