[The effect of aortofemoral bypass in the immune status of patients]

Changes in the immunity of 10 patients were studied during aortofemoral bypass surgery. A marked drop in the level of transferrin and of C 3 and C 4 components of complement was observed in the course of the operation and on the first postoperative day. Transferrin levels exhibited a statistically significant difference even on the 7th postoperative day (p less than 0.05). The orosomucoid response was less pronounced. In cell mediated immunity the most remarkable change was recorded in the drop of T-lymphocytes which persisted all over the first postoperative week. Alterations in immunoglobulins were most prominent in the immediate postoperative period and persisted up to the 7th postoperative day. The authors discuss some factors which, in addition to the surgical load, may be involved in immunodepression.