The significance of acute phase reactions for organism

· Protective

Acute phase reactions proteins carry out antimicrobe and antioxidant effects. Cytokines change functions of organs and systems, cause fever, activate phagocytosis, promote development of stress. Cytokines provide the reorganization of metabolism, providing redistribution of metabolic resources for the usage by the most active participants of acute response to aggression (amino acids go to bone marrow, lymphoid tissue, and liver). In result there is a restoration of the broken homeostasis, resorption of necrotic tissues, neutralization and removal of excessive amount of tissue proteases, creation of conditions for reparation.

· Pathogenic

Excessive cytokines effects are pathogenic for an organism. Especially toxically is combined action of IL-1 and TNF which blocks membrane digestion and intestines peristalsis, causes vomiting, diarrhea, hepatocytes distraction, elevation of blood potassium and acidosis. Massive releasing of these cytokines and their prolonged persistence in blood can lead to development of septic shock arising at severe bacterial infections. IL-1 and TNF cause decrease of arterial blood pressure, systemic disorders of microcirculation, syndrome of polyorganic insufficiency. IL-1 renders negative influence on myocardium contractility. Stimulating formation of thromboplastin, it promotes development of DIC- syndrome.

Systemic cytokines effects cause syndrome of systemic inflammatory response (Chicago, 1991).

Clinical criteria of syndrome of systemic inflammatory response:

· the temperature is more 38⁰C or less 36⁰C

· the number of heart beats is more than 90

· frequency of breath is more than 20 or arterial hypocapnia is less than 32 mm Hg

· Leukocytosis is more than 12 х 10⁹/L or leukopenia is less than 4х10⁹/L or presence of more than 10 % unmatured forms of leukocytes

The syndrome of systemic inflammatory response is diagnosed on presence at least two criteria.