Value of blood inflammatory markers in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in children / 南方医科大学学报

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the value of serum inflammatory markers in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis (AA) in children.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Blood samples were collected from 51 children with AA and 16 children with nonsurgical abdominal pain (NSAP) to examine white blood cell count (WBC), serum C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>WBC count, CRP, IL-6 and TNF-α increased significantly in children with severe AA (phlegmonous or gangrenous, and perforated appendicitis). ROC curves showed that IL-6 or TNF-α had a greater contribution than WBC count to the diagnosis of severe appendicitis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>IL-6 and TNF-α can provide complementary information to assist the clinical decision of emergency operation for children with AA.</p>