In vivo evaluation of postoperative immunosuppression by means of Multitest system

The Multitest System, a new standardized method for evaluating delayed hypersensitivity and cell mediated immunity was carried out before surgery and throughout the postoperative care in subjects undergoing gastrointestinal surgery. In all patients significantly depressed cutaneous reactions were found in the first day after operation. Immunosuppression lasted more than four days when postoperative infection has set up, while in uneventful patients delayed hypersensitivity has returned to preoperative values from the fourth day. It would be suggested that Multitest System data in fourth postoperative day could identify subjects with uneventful recovery after surgery.