Zapalenie (ostre) jako reakcja korzystna dla organizmu - historia badań a najnowsze osiągnięcia

Abstrakt

The first description of inflammation as "rubor et tumor cum calore et dolore" dated for the 1st century could not be more precise: redness and edema accompanied by heat and pain. Since the times of Celsus, the author of the above words, many followers aimed at investigating the phenomenon of inflammation. Their work and findings are presented and discussed, including the studies of Galen, John Hunter, Rudolf Virchow, Julius Conheim, Elie Metchnikoff, Paul Ehrlich, Ludwig Aschoff, Thomas Lewis, and Maurício Rocha e Silva. Their discoveries and theories to allowed to define inflammation as a response of the body to infection or injury aimed at elimination of the invader and healing of the injured tissue(s). The characteristic stages of acute inflammation are described here in detail. Now it is definitely known that acute inflammation is beneficial to the body as it allows elimination of pathogens and healing, and thus prevents development of chronic inflammation that is a pathological disorder that might lead to development of cancer. Even the biggest disadvantage of inflammation - pain - seems to perform an important function of alerting to some abnormality. In summary, acute inflammation terminated after successful elimination of the pathogen is a valuable reaction keeping the homeostasis of an organism.