EFFECT OF ANESTHETIC AGENTS ON THE PHAGOCYTIC FUNCTION OF HUMAN POLYMORPHONUCLEAR LEUKOCYTES THROUGH ANALYSIS WITH A PHAGOCYTIC PLAQUE METHOD

We examined the effects of the intravenous anaesthetic agents, thiamyl al and ketamine, on the phagocytic function of polymorphonuclear leuko cytes (PMN) in heparinized peripheral blood from healthy individuals u sing the phagocytic plaque method. Subclinical doses of thiamylal caus ed enhancement of the phagocytic activity of PMN and super-clinical do ses of thiamylal inhibited phagocytic activity of PMN. Ketamine did no t adversely affect phagocytic function at relevant therapeutic concent rations. The results presented in this manuscript indicate the phagocy tic plaque method can provide a quantitative assessment of the phagocy tic function of leukocytes. This method may prove useful in determinin g whether anaesthetic agents and other drugs adversely affect leukocyt e function and hence help prevent the increased susceptibility to infe ction which can occur in anaesthetized patients. Conversely, the phago cytic plaque method may prove useful in the search for immune-enhancin g drugs.