Clinical features

Typically, chronic inflammation is characterised by absence or modification of the cardinal signs of acute inflammation:

• heat and redness of the area are relatively reduced
• pain is duller
• function may be partially or fully restored
• swelling is often present; its underlying basis is different to the changes in vascular permeability which occur in acute inflammation - it is more likely to be due to cellular infiltrate and tissue deposition
• fever may be low-grade or cyclical

Investigations are dependent on the underlying aetiology, but common findings include:

• low-grade acute phase response
• FBC: leukocytosis to a lesser extent than acute inflammation, mononuclear cells predominate