title: Comparative effects of flurbiprofen and fentanyl on natural killer cell cytotoxicity, lymphocyte subsets and cytokine concentrations in post-surgical intensive care unit patients: prospective, randomized study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of the long-term administration of flurbiprofen and fentanyl in the intensive care unit on natural killer cell cytotoxicity (NKCC), lymphocyte subsets and cytokine levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective study, patients scheduled for at least 48 h sedation after neck surgery were randomly assigned to two groups called group N and group F. Group N patients were sedated with propofol and flurbiprofen after surgery (n = 12), while group F patients were sedated with propofol and fentanyl (n = 13). The NKCC, lymphocyte subsets, and plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 were measured before and at the end of surgery, on postoperative day (POD) 1 and POD2.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The NKCC was significantly higher on POD1 in group N than in group F (14.5 ± 11.2 versus 6.3 ± 4.1%, p < 0.05), the difference between the groups disappearing on POD2. Lymphocyte subsets and plasma levels of cytokines were not significantly different between the two groups during the study period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transient suppressive effects on NKCC were observed in the fentanyl group as compared to the flurbiprofen group. This suggests that when choosing postoperative analgesics, physicians should bear in mind the potential immunosuppressive effects of these agents in patients requiring prolonged sedation in the intensive care unit.
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit, Gunma University Hospital, 3-39-22 Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8511, Japan, hnarahara@gunma-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Narahara
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kadoi
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hinohara
authors.forename: Fumio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kunimoto
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saito
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005480:Flurbiprofen / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood*; D020014:K562 Cells; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D015742:Propofol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000379:methods; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D007378:Interleukins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D005480:Flurbiprofen; D005283:Fentanyl; D015742:Propofol
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