[Effect of anesthesia and surgery on immunity in patients with benign and malignant diseases]

The effect of anesthesia and surgery in patients with benign and malignant diseases was investigated applying two color analysis for the classification of functional lymphocyte subpopulation. Eight patients with benign diseases and twelve patients with malignancies were studied. Peripheral lymphocyte subsets were measured before, during and after operation using monoclonal antibodies; OKT3 (Leu4), OKT4 (Leu3a), OKT8 (Leu2a), Leu11, OKT11 (Leu5b), Leu12, HLA-Dr. Decrease in OKT4, OKT4/OKT8 ratio, Leu12 and HLA-Dr, and increase in OKT8 were observed during the operation. In addition to these measurements, two color analysis utilizing two kinds of monoclonal antibody, such as Leu3a and Leu8, or Leu2a and Leu15 was performed. Inducer T cells decreased and suppressor T cells increased during the operation. These changes suggest immuno-suppression throughout the operation. These changes returned to control levels in three days after the operation.