ABSTRACT
The effects of thiopentone and propofol on delayed hypersensitivity reactions and T lymphocyte proliferation were studied in nine healthy volunteers (five women and four men). Thiopentone 5 mg.kg-1 and propofol 2.5 mg kg-1 were given as a 10 min infusion on two separate occasions. The volunteers were exposed to a skin multitest antigen before and after administration of the two agents and their skin reactions assessed. T lymphocyte responses were studied using phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-induced proliferation. Results showed that both drugs caused a significant depression of skin reactions in vivo but no depression in the T lymphocyte proliferation.
Subject(s)
Dermatitis, Allergic Contact/immunology , Immune Tolerance/drug effects , Propofol/pharmacology , T-Lymphocytes/drug effects , Thiopental/pharmacology , Adult , Cell Division/drug effects , Female , Humans , Immunity, Cellular/drug effects , Intradermal Tests , Male , Phytohemagglutinins/immunology , T-Lymphocytes/immunologyABSTRACT
Anaesthetic agents are believed to have an adverse effect on human immunity. We have studied the effects of four i.v. induction agents, thiopentone, methohexitone, etomidate and propofol, on T-lymphocyte proliferations to phytohaemagglutinin in vitro. We found that at plasma concentrations similar to those obtained after induction doses, all drugs, with the exception of propofol, caused depression of T-lymphocyte function.