title: Lymphocyte response after surgery in the neonate.
abstract: Fourteen neonates born with congenital malformations were investigated for lymphocyte function before and after surgery. Total leucocyte and absolute lymphocyte counts were unaltered after surgery. The mean percentage of T-lymphocytes observed either pre- or postoperatively was considerably lower than that reported in older children and adults. While there was an increase in the percentage of B-lymphocytes after operation in the infants, the absolute number of B-cells remained unchanges. The preoperative transformation response of lymphocytes to PHA (mean 12.9 +/- 5.4 X 10(3) counts/min) was little different from the postoperative values (mean 12.4 +/- 4.4 X 10(3) counts/min). These results suggest that the neonate is immunologically different from older children and adults in its response to anaesthesia and surgery.
mesh_terms: D000769:Anesthesia, Inhalation; D001402:B-Lymphocytes; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D011184:Postoperative Period; D013601:T-Lymphocytes; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D013936:Thymidine