Lymphocyte function and abdominal operations. Trauma vs elective surgery
D. V. Feliciano, R. B. O'Gorman, C. G. Bitondo, P. A. Cruse, R. H. Matthews and K. S. Matthews
An alteration of in vitro phytochemagglutinin-induced lymphocyte
transformation immediately following abdominal trauma has been
demonstrated. In this study the results of lymphocyte transformation in 30
patients who had suffered abdominal trauma (27 laparotomies; three
observed) were compared with those of 20 patients who had undergone
laparotomy for elective surgical problems. Response to mitogen was measured
by incorporation of tritiated thymidine as a function of lymphocyte
concentration, with a constant amount of phytochemagglutinin and a standard
incubation period. A saturation curve was obtained, and lymphocyte response
was measured as the concentration necessary for half-maximal incorporation
of the radioactive label. No alteration of in vitro lymphocyte response was
present in patients after elective abdominal or abdominal wall operations.
In contrast, lymphocyte transformation was markedly depressed in patients
who underwent surgery following abdominal trauma.