THE EFFECTS OF THIOPENTONE AND PROPOFOL ON DELAYED-HYPERSENSITIVITY REACTIONS

The effects of thiopentone and propofol on delayed hypersensitivity re actions and T lymphocyte proliferation were studied in nine healthy vo lunteers (five women and four men). Thiopentone 5 mg .kg(-1) and propo fol 2.5 mg kg(-1) were given as a 10 min infusion on two separate occa sions. The volunteers were exposed to a skin multitest antigen before and after administration of the two agents and their skin reactions as sessed. T lymphocyte responses were studied using phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-induced proliferation. Results showed that both drugs caused a s ignificant depression of skin reactions in vivo but no depression in t he T lymphocyte proliferation.