INFLUENCE OF INTRAOPERATIVE BLOOD-LOSS ON THE FUNCTION OF NATURAL-KILLER-CELLS IN TUMORS OF THE UPPER GASTROINTESTINAL-TRACT

The activity of natural killer cells was measured perioperatively in 3 9 patients with esophageal and gastric cancer and was correlated with intraoperative blood loss. The activity of natural killer cells in all patients sank significantly (p < 0.05) on the fourth postoperative da y to their original values. In the 24 patients with an intraoperative blood loss of more than 700 ml, the activity of the natural killer cel ls decreased significantly (p < 0.05) on the fourth postoperative day, in contrast to those 15 patients with an intraoperative blood loss of less than 500 ml; intraoperative blood loss and activity of natural k iller cells show a correlation of R(2) 0.82.