[The role of acute phase proteins in the pathogenesis of chronic periapical granuloma].
Alpha-1-antitrypsin, alpha-2-macroglobulin, C-reactive protein, haptoglobin and complement component C 3 concentrations and oxidase activity of ceruloplasmin were studied in sera of 36 patients with chronic periapical granuloma before and after surgical treatment. Mean serum concentrations of the investigated proteins were slightly elevated at diagnosis, with the exception of haptoglobin. Alpha-1-antitrypsin and ceruloplasmin levels decreased significantly 7 days after apicectomy, the four other proteins were unchanged at this sampling time. Each investigated protein decreased significantly 3 months after apicectomy. This is the first longitudinal study of "acute-phase proteins" in chronic periapical granuloma. The results suggest that inflammatory reactions contribute to the maintenance of chronic periapical lesion.