Differences in lymphocyte mitogenic stimulation pattern depending on anaesthesia and operative trauma: II. Combined...

In this study, neuroleptanaesthesia reduced the reactivity of lymphocytes to phytohaemagglutin (PHA-P) and pokeweed mitogen (PWM) in patients in a manner similar to that seen with halothane/nitrous oxide and enflurane/nitrous oxide inhalational anaesthesia. These findings began 4 h post-operatively, lasted throughout the first post-operative day and were similar in both operative trauma groups (eye surgery/gynaecological surgery). However, unlike the situation with the inhalational agent, Concanavalin A (Con A)-induced proliferation did not alter. It was also noted that, on the third post-operative day in both trauma groups, PHA-P- and PWM-induced proliferation ratios were significantly higher than were the pre-operative values. These findings could be the result of a specific effect of neuroleptanaesthesia.