Peritoneal reaction in acute appendicitis. A biochemical study.

The present study shows that appendicitis and its associated peritoneal inflammation produce microscopic and biochemical changes in the peritoneal membrane. With increasing age, the peritoneal concentrations of DNA, RNA, nitrogen, hydroxyproline, and uronic acids seemed to decrease. In general the greatest chemical changes were observed in younger age groups between the control and peritonitis patients. The amounts of DNA and RNA reflecting the cellularity of the peritoneum were affected most clearly. The location of the appendicular process and the severity of the disease markedly influenced the chemical composition of the peritoneum, whereas the duration of the disease appeared to have no effect on the results. In peritonitis, the concentrations of uronic acids and non-collagenous nitrogen increased markecly, while the concentrations of hydroxyproline and the hydroxyproline/nitrogen ratio decreased. Meseneric lymphadenitis produced no significant changes in the biochemical parameters.