title: Age-dependent haematological disturbances in anaesthetic personnel chronically exposed to high occupational concentrations of halothane and nitrous oxide.
abstract: Anaesthetic staff chronically exposed to high occupational concentrations of halothane and nitrous oxide were tested for numerous haematological and cellular function parameters at the peak of the working season and after 3 weeks vacation. The analysis of data was performed to compare differences in subjects younger and older than the age of 40 years, respectively when compared with normal controls. The analysis revealed a higher recovery of erythrocyte count in the blood of older staff, and stronger disturbance of leucocyte formation in younger staff. In contrast, monocytes appeared to be more stable in the younger staff as were the T and B lymphocyte counts. After stimulation with PHA, Con A and PWM mitogens, lymphocytes from the older age group incorporated a significantly higher amount of tritiated thymidine, but stimulation indices did not differ. Natural killer cell numbers appeared equally affected; natural killer cell activity was unaffected, but there was an increase in activity in the younger staff after the vacation. Serum immunoglobulin concentrations tended to be more affected in older individuals at the peak of the working season.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, Sisters of Mercy Clinical Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Perić
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Petrovecki
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marusić
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000776:Anesthesiology; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D004906:Erythrocyte Count / Q000187:drug effects; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006221:Halothane / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000097:blood; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000187:drug effects; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008934:Mitogens / Q000276:immunology; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins; D008934:Mitogens; D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D006221:Halothane