[Changes in the parameters of humoral immunity due to surgical operations or trauma]

Humoral immunity (immunoglobulins and C3) as well as nutritional conditions (serum albumin, transferrin) have been investigated in 23 patients in the acute phase after surgery and/or trauma. Immunoglobulin deficiency, well correlated with the severity of trauma, was observed in the most critically ill patients in the very early phase, followed by a rapid rise to near to normal values and typical immunologic response. There is no evidence that this depression of humoral immunity may enhance the risk of infectious complications in the postoperative period. Very different immunological patterns were observed in surgical patients with chronic sepsis.