RESUMEN
Prophylactic cholecystectomy for asymptomatic gallstones is still controversial. Aim of the study was to assess whether the determination of serum acute phase proteins (APP) could be utilized as a criterion for cholecystectomy, as they are suggestive of the presence in the blood of cytokines released from the inflamed gallbladder wall, even when clinical signs are missing. In 75 cases of gallstones, free from other coexistent inflammatory processes, red cell sedimentation rate, plasmatic cortisol, immunoglobulin (IgA, IgG, IgM), electrophoresis of the proteins, CPR, fibrinogen, haptoglobin, alfa-1-antitrypsin and bile culture have been detected. The patients have been subdivided into two groups: patients with asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic disease and patients with a clear clinical pattern of acute cholecystitis. In the latter alfa-1-globulin, alfa-2-globulin, ESR, CPR and cortisol turned out to be significantly elevated, while in 20-30% of the former CPR, beta-globulin and cortisol were increased, too. The study demonstrates that among the patients with asymptomatic gallstones there is a population having PFA values higher than normal. This is suggestive of a cytokines activation which, when other inflammatory processes can be excluded, is likely due to gallbladder inflammation and surgery will likely be indicated.