title: Influence of thymopentin on postsurgical immune deficiency: a clinical pilot study.
abstract: The effect of a single dose (50 mg) of thymopentin, administered subcutaneously, on antigen-induced proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was investigated in 25 volunteers (all over 50 years of age) and in nine patients undergoing major surgery. Blood samples from another nine patients having the same type of surgery were used as control in the second trial. A statistically significant increase in the proliferative response was observed in the group of volunteers two hours after thymopentin administration. This increment was not demonstrable as significant 24 h later. In contrast to this observation, the surgical procedure-induced significant decrement in the proliferation of PBMCs observed on the first and third postoperative days did not occur in the thymopentin-treated patients on the first postoperative day. This preventive effect of the single dose of thymopentin administered two hours before surgery was no longer demonstrable on the third postoperative day. Further studies are ongoing in order to establish a treatment regimen with thymopentin for the therapy of trauma-induced immune deficiencies.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Faist
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Riedel
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bolla
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000368:Aged; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016305:Thymopentin; D013946:Thymopoietins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013951:Thymus Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D013946:Thymopoietins; D013951:Thymus Hormones; D016305:Thymopentin