The effect of surgical procedures on monocyte function in patients with carcinoma of the colon and rectum

The whole blood monocyte count (WBMC), migratory response (MMR), phagocytic index (MPI), chemiluminescence (MCL) and serum opsonic activity (SOA) were measured in a group of 31 patients before and after undergoing elective operation for carcinoma of the colon and rectum (group 1). In the early postoperative period, there was a reduction of the WBMC (preoperatively: 54.1 +/- 41.8, 24 hours; 38.4 +/- 24.8, 48 hours, and 39.1 +/- 24.2 X 10(4) per milliliter, both p less than 0.05), impairment of MMR (preoperatively, 72.2 +/- 34.4; 24 hours, 56.7 +/- 28.6, and 48 hours, 54.7 +/- 30.8 cells per high power field [HPF], both p less than 0.01), enhancement of the MPI (preoperatively, 208.1 +/- 44.1, 24 hours, 225.9 +/- 45.6, p less than 0.05, and 48 hours, 242.0 +/- 48.0, p less than 0.01) and an increase of the MCL (preoperatively, 26,091 +/- 14,419; 24 hours, 30,896 +/- 13,741, and counts per minute [CPM], not significant and 48 hours: 33,576 +/- 18,167 CPM, p less than 0.02). There was also a small reduction in monocyte SOA during this period (preoperatively, 89.4 +/- 13.9; 24 hours, 83.0 +/- 20.1, and 48 hours, 78.3 +/- 29.3 per cent control, both p less than 0.05). At one week after operation, monocyte function tended to return to the normal range in patients who had undergone uncomplicated curative resection. These functions tended to be increased in those patients with complications. The administration of the immunostimulant levamisole (5 milligrams per kilogram) preoperatively to a group of 20 patients with carcinoma of the colon and rectum (group 2) did not result in any significant differences of the postoperative monocyte functions when compared with the patients in group 1.