Effects of chronic exposure to anaesthetic gases on some immune parameters.

A cross-sectional survey was carried out to evaluate the relation between occupational exposure to low levels of anaesthetic gases (nitrous oxide and isoflurane) and immune parameters. Fifty-one anaesthetists were recruited among different Services of Anaesthesiology and Reanimation. The control group consisted of non-exposed physicians, similar for gender, age, and job grade. Total number of lymphocytes, lymphocyte subpopulations and the natural killer (NK) cytotoxic activity were measured. Information on personal and professional characteristics and on short- and long-term exposure was collected. Percentages of T cells (CD3) decreased significantly in anaesthetists compared to controls, whereas numbers of NK cells (CD16+ CD3-) increased. After correction for confounders, short-term (last 2 weeks) exposure was associated with a decrease in percentages of total T and T helper (CD4) cells. Furthermore, T helper percentages were significantly reduced with increasing individual exposure score evaluated on the basis of working days and levels of anaesthetic gases in operating rooms. A significant X-ray-associated increase of numbers and percentages of NK cells was lastly observed. Despite limited present exposure to anaesthetic gases, a specific derangement in lymphocyte subpopulations, with T lymphocytes more affected than B, has been observed.

[1]  S. Segal,et al.  Effect of anesthesia on the immune system: suppression of the immunogenic capacity of macrophages and of lymphocyte transformation. , 1989, Immunological investigations.

[2]  D. Bruce.  Failure of nitrous oxide to inhibit transformation of lymphocytes by phytohemagglutinin. , 1976, Anesthesiology.

[3]  G. Vivoli,et al.  Emotional stability, anxiety, and natural killer activity under examination stress , 1999, Psychoneuroendocrinology.

[4]  M. Salo,et al.  Peripheral blood T- and B-lymphocytes in operating theatre personnel. , 1976, British journal of anaesthesia.

[5]  S. Markovic,et al.  Inhibition of Interferon Stimulation of Natural Killer Cell Activity in Mice Anesthetized with Halothane or Isoflurane , 1993, Anesthesiology.

[6]  P. Kitsiou,et al.  Stimulatory effect of low dose X-irradiation on the expression of the human T lymphocyte CD2 surface antigen. , 1996, International journal of radiation biology.

[7]  M. Marusic,et al.  Immunological disturbances in anaesthetic personnel chronically exposed to high occupational concentrations of nitrous oxide and halothane , 1991, Anaesthesia.

[8]  J. Cruse,et al.  Halothane‐Induced Suppression of Cell‐Mediated Immunity in Normal and Tumor‐Bearing C3HfHe Mice , 1980, Anesthesia and analgesia.

[9]  J. Nunn,et al.  Nitrous oxide decreases motility of human neutrophils in vitro. , 1982, Anesthesiology.

[10]  M. Beksac,et al.  The effects of volatile anaesthetic agents on human immune system function via occupational exposure. , 1992, Immunopharmacology and immunotoxicology.

[11]  P. Bigatti,et al.  Chromosome analysis in operating room personnel. , 1989, Mutagenesis.

[12]  P. Chretien,et al.  The Effect of Halotlmne on Phytohemagglutinininduced Transformation of Human Lymphocytes in Vitro , 1972 .

[13]  M. Tekeres,et al.  Impaired metabolic activity of phagocytic cells after anaesthesia and surgery. , 1985, British journal of anaesthesia.

[14]  Ş. Şardaş,et al.  Use of alkaline comet assay (single cell gel electrophoresis technique) to detect DNA damages in lymphocytes of operating room personnel occupationally exposed to anaesthetic gases. , 1998, Mutation research.

[15]  M. Petrovecki,et al.  Age‐dependent haematological disturbances in anaesthetic personnel chronically exposed to high occupational concentrations of halothane and nitrous oxide , 1994, Anaesthesia.

[16]  S. Salvioli,et al.  Use of flameless atomic absorption spectroscopy in immune cytolysis for nonradioactive determination of killer cell activity. , 1996, Clinical chemistry.

[17]  J. Gavora,et al.  Chromosome and sister-chromatid exchange analysis in peripheral lymphocytes, and mutagenicity of urine in anesthesiology personnel , 1992, International archives of occupational and environmental health.

[18]  J. Eskola,et al.  T and B Lymphocyte Function in Anaesthetists , 1984, Acta anaesthesiologica Scandinavica.

[19]  W. D. Welch.  Effect of enflurane, isoflurane, and nitrous oxide on the microbicidal activity of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. , 1984, Anesthesiology.

[20]  G. Woods,et al.  Reversible inhibition of natural killer cell activity by volatile anaesthetic agents in vitro. , 1986, British journal of anaesthesia.

[21]  E. Lanz,et al.  DNA single-strand breaks in peripheral lymphocytes of clinical personnel with occupational exposure to volatile inhalational anesthetics. , 1994, Environmental research.

[22]  N. Amerio,et al.  Halothane–associated enhancement of the secondary immune response to sheep erythrocytes in mice: cell transfer studies , 1993, Acta anaesthesiologica Scandinavica.

[23]  A. Tait,et al.  Halothane Inhibits the Intraalveolar Recruitment of Neutrophils, Lymphocytes, and Macrophages in Response to Influenza Virus Infection in Mice , 1993, Anesthesia and analgesia.

[24]  G. Frentz,et al.  Increased number of circulating suppressor T‐Lymphocytes in Sun‐induced multiple skin cancers , 1988, Cancer.

[25]  S. Salvioli,et al.  The use of non-radioactive chromium as an alternative to 51Cr in NK assay. , 1995, Journal of immunological methods.

[26]  C. Griffith,et al.  EFFECT OF HALOTHANE AND NITROUS OXIDE ANAESTHESIA ON NATURAL KILLER LYMPHOCYTES FROM PATIENTS WITH BENIGN AND MALIGNANT BREAST DISEASE , 1986 .

[27]  N. Valentin,et al.  Effect of nitrous oxide and volatile anaesthetics on platelet function in man , 1994 .

[28]  S. J. James,et al.  Immune potentiation after fractionated exposure to very low doses of ionizing radiation and/or caloric restriction in autoimmune-prone and normal C57Bl/6 mice. , 1990, Clinical immunology and immunopathology.

[29]  D. de Ruysscher,et al.  Changes of lymphocyte subsets after local irradiation for early stage breast cancer and seminoma testis: long-term increase of activated (HLA-DR+) T cells and decrease of "naive" (CD4-CD45R) T lymphocytes. , 1992, European journal of cancer.

[30]  P Schmucker,et al.  The effects of general anesthesia on human peripheral immune cell distribution and cytokine production. , 1997, Clinical immunology and immunopathology.