A short-term long-chain triglycerides infusion has no influence on immune function of adult patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery.
BACKGROUND
Parenteral nutrition (PN) support containing long-chain triglycerides (LCT) plays a critical supportive role in surgical patients' management. This study aims to investigate the effects of intravenous (IV) LCT emulsion on human immune function in adult patients receiving a gastrointestinal surgical procedure.


METHODS
Sixty adult patients were randomly assigned either to the LCT treatment group (n = 32) or to the control group (n = 28). After an abdominal operation, the subjects received PN treatment with or without LCT for 5 days. Neutrophil, peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC), lymphocyte and CD4/CD8, serum immunoglobulin A (IgA), IgG, IgM, complement C3 and C4, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-10, IL-12, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and interferon (IFN)-gamma were measured and statistically analyzed.


RESULTS
The LCT and control groups did not differ significantly at entry in terms of general features. Except for a significant increase of neutrophil number at 24 hours after the surgery in both groups (p < .01), all parameters representing the patients' immune function had no significant difference between the LCT and the control groups with respect to neutrophil and PBMC count, lymphocyte, CD4/CD8, serum IgA, IgG, IgM, complement C3, C4, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IL-12, TNF-alpha, and IFN-gamma (p > .05, respectively) 24 hours before the operation, and 24 hours and 120 hours after the operation.


CONCLUSIONS
The regimens of LCT administration may have diverse effects on human immune function in different patient populations. However, LCT emulsion at an appropriate dose and infusion speed does not alter human immune function of adult patients undergoing moderate gastrointestinal surgery.
Li
Xiaogang
X
Department of General Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
Ying
Jiaoqian
J
Zeng
Shan
S
Shen
Liangfang
L
Wan
Xiaoping
X
Li
Xiaorong
X
Tan
Hui
H
Pei
Haiping
H
Zhou
Jun
J
Shen
Hong
H
D000328:Adult; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects*; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures; D005217:Fat Emulsions, Intravenous / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007378:Interleukins / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition / Q000379:methods*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D005217:Fat Emulsions, Intravenous; D007378:Interleukins; D014280:Triglycerides