Lymphocyte response after surgery in the neonate. Issue 8 (August 1979)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Puri, P; Reen, D J; Browne, O; Blake, P; Guiney, E J
• Is Part Of: Archives of disease in childhood. Volume 54:Issue 8(1979)
• Page Start: 599
• Page End: 603
• Publication Date: 1979-08
• Subjects: Children -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Infants -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 618.920005
• DOI: 10.1136/adc.54.8.599
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-9888

Abstract

Abstract : Fourteen neonates born with congenital malformations were investigated for lymphocyte function before and after surgery. Total leucocyte and absolute lymphocyte counts were unaltered after surgery. The mean percentage of T-lymphocytes observed either pre- or postoperatively was considerably lower than that reported in older children and adults. While there was an increase in the percentage of B-lymphocytes after operation in the infants, the absolute number of B-cells remained unchanges. The preoperative transformation response of lymphocytes to PHA (mean 12.9 +/- 5.4 X 10(3) counts/min) was little different from the postoperative values (mean 12.4 +/- 4.4 X 10(3) counts/min). These results suggest that the neonate is immunologically different from older children and adults in its response to anaesthesia and surgery.