Evaluation of neutrophil functions in obstructive jaundice patients

Jaundiced surgical patients have a high incidence of post-operative complications and sepsis is a major factor in the high mortality and morbidity of obstructive jaundice patients after surgery. Cachexia and immune suppression have been shown to be involved in this post-operative complications. Since neutrophils dysfunction is recognized in recurrent infections in general, the aim of the study was to evaluate the functional status of neutrophils in jaundiced patients. Phagocytosis, bactericidal activity, mitogenic stimulation of T-lymphocytes and myeloperoxidase activity were measured in the neutrophils isolated from obstructive jaundice patients. Phagocytic and bactericidal activities of neutrophils were significantly low in obstructive jaundice patients. The number of cells stained for myeloperoxidase was significantly low in obstructive jaundice patients. There was a high level of stimulation and proliferation exhibited by lymphocytes when challenged by conconavalin-A and lipopolysaccharide in vitro. The functional impairment of neutrophils may be responsible for the immunity alteration in obstructive jaundice patients and this may be responsible for the post-operative complications in obstructive jaundiced patients.