CHANGES OF WHITE BLOOD-CELLS, IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE ACIDIC PROTEIN, AND INTERLEUKIN-2 RECEPTOR AFTER OPEN-HEART-SURGERY

There are a lot of immunological changes after major surgery, especial ly in open heart surgery when blood flows through a cardiopulmonary by pass system. We monitored leukocyte count, lymphocyte subpopulation co unt, soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R) and serum IL-2 levels, and an immu nosuppressive acidic protein (IAP) level before and on the 1st, 7th, a nd 14th day after open heart surgery. It was noted that there were sig nificant increases of total leukocyte and granulocyte counts for more than two weeks. But total lymphocyte, T-lymphocyte, B-lymphocyte, natu ral killer cell, suppressor T-cell, and helper T-cell all showed signi ficant decreases in absolute numbers for more than one week as compare d to the preoperative values. Serum IAP level was elevated for more th an two weeks after operation. Serum IL-2 decreased but serum sIL-2R in creased in the postoperative period. It is concluded that there is a p eriod of immunosuppression after open heart surgery which lasts for at least one week and perhaps more than two weeks.