EFFECT OF SURGERY ON NEUTROPHIL LEUKOTRIENE B-4 GENERATION AND ARACHIDONIC-ACID CONTENT

The effect of surgery on neutrophil leukotriene B-4 (LTB4) generation and arachidonic acid content was examined in 9 patients undergoing maj or surgery for esophageal cancer and 10 patients undergoing lesser sur gery. Plasma IL-8 and neutrophil LTB4 generation was increased signifi cantly 6 h after surgery regardless of the extent of surgery. This fin ding was associated with a decrease in neutrophil arachidonate content . In patients who underwent major surgery, neutrophil LTB4 generation decreased progressively on the 1st, 2nd, and 4th postoperative days, a nd this decrease paralleled a further decrease in neutrophil arachidon ate content. These findings suggest that neutrophils are activated by surgery, thereby consuming their arachidonic acid, and that neutrophil LTB4 generation is influenced by postoperative arachidonate levels.