ISSN:
1365-2044
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
There are two major subpopulations of peripheral helper T lymphocytes: T helper 1 (Th1) and T helper 2 (Th2) cells. Surgical stress increases the number of Th2 cells, and decreases that of Th1 cells, resulting in a decrease in the Th1/Th2 ratio, and, consequently, in suppressed cell-mediated immunity. Since anaesthesia can suppress the stress response to surgery, it may inhibit the decrease in the Th1/Th2 ratio. Using flow cytometry, we studied whether propofol anaesthesia (n = 9) or isoflurane anaesthesia (n = 9) had more effect on the decrease in the Th1/Th2 ratio after surgery in patients undergoing craniotomy. The Th1/Th2 ratio decreased significantly after isoflurane anaesthesia (p = 0.011), while it did not change after propofol anaesthesia. The ratio was significantly lower with isoflurane than propofol (p = 0.009). Propofol anaesthesia attenuated the surgical stress-induced adverse immune response better than isoflurane anaesthesia.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2044.2004.03837.x