[The in vitro influence of dehydrobenzperidol (droperidol) on lymphocyte transformation (author's transl)]

Droperidol, an agent which is used in neurolept anaesthesia was tested in vitro for its effect upon the lymphocyte transformation test. Using peripheral blood of healthy volunteers droperidol was added simultaneously with PHA (phytohaemagglutinin) respectively after the lymphocytes had been incubated with PHA already for a period of 47 hours. Lymphocyte transformation was not impeded significantly when the first method was used, when clinically comparable concentrations were administered. When droperidol was added after PHA even lower concentrations caused an inhibition. The significance of these different modes of testing is discussed. It is concluded from these results that droperidol in clinical concentrations as used in Neurolept anaesthesia does not have a distinct and lasting influence upon lymphocyte transformation and thus has no considerable immunosuppressive effects.